Gratitude Facilitates Self-Control

Abstract

Abstract: It has been found that gratitude attenuates temporal discounting. However, it remains unclear whether this effect is out of consideration for future consequences or immediate consequences, which predicts self-control more strongly. We investigate the relationship between gratitude and self-control on both trait and state level with two studies. Study 1 demonstrated that trait gratitude was positively correlated with trait self-control. The correlation held significant even after positive affect trait was controlled. Study 2 showed that induction of state gratitude emotion effectively compensated ego-depletion, and thus facilitated state self-control. Implications of the findings and future directions were discussed.

Key words: gratitude, self-control, ego-depletion, positive affect

摘要： 过去的研究表明感恩能减弱时间贴现，但是并不清楚这种现象是受对未来结果的考虑影响还是受与自我控制关系更密切的对即时结果的考虑影响。本文通过两个研究从特质和状态两个层面考察了感恩与自我控制之间的关系。研究一发现，感恩特质与自我控制特质存在显著的正相关，并且这种相关在控制了一般积极情感特质之后仍然显著。研究二发现，状态性感恩情绪启动补偿了自我损耗，并提升了状态性自我控制。本文对该发现进行了讨论并对未来的研究方向进行了展望。

关键词: 感恩, 自我控制, 自我损耗, 积极情感

CLC Number:

B849

PING Anjun, PENG Kaiping. Gratitude Facilitates Self-Control[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2018, 16(3): 378-383,420.

平安俊, 彭凯平. 感恩对自我控制的影响[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2018, 16(3): 378-383,420.

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