Positive Psychology by Shane J. Lopez & Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti & C. R. Snyder

Author:Shane J. Lopez & Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti & C. R. Snyder
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-03-18T21:10:00.639000+00:00

Cultural Variations in Gratitude

Research focused on cross-cultural comparisons between East Asian participants from Korea and Japan and participants from the United States (primarily White American samples) shows that expressions of gratitude and reactions to these expressions may differ between East and West. The words “thank you,” for example, are shown to produce more positive reactions in the United States samples as compared with those participants from Korea, especially when the attention of the recipient of the gratitude is drawn specifically toward it (Park & Lee, 2012). Other research found that Koreans preferred the use of apology phrases as opposed to a “thank you,” whereas those in the United States (again, primarily White Americans) had the opposite reaction (Lee & Park, 2011). Lee and Park state that this preference has to do with perception of which words would help soothe a threat to personal “face” (i.e., saving face); while Koreans felt that “I’m sorry” best accomplished this task, those in the United States felt that “thank you” was more effective. Similar results were found in the samples in Japan (Ide, 1998; Long, 2010).

Differences have been found between racial groups within the multicultural context of the United States as well. The use of gratitude-enhancing strategies to influence happiness or well-being also appears to differ between Asian Americans and their White American counterparts. In a study by Boehm, Lyubomirsky, and Sheldon (2011), researchers assigned participants to groups that employed different happiness-enhancing techniques. In the condition using gratitude expression as a vehicle for increasing happiness, marked differences were found between these cultural groups, with White Americans benefiting much more greatly from these techniques as compared with the Asian American participants. This may be because Asian Americans hold similar beliefs regarding gratitude to those in Asian countries, as suggested previously by Lee, Park, and others (Ide, 1998; Lee & Park, 2011; Long, 2010; Park & Lee, 2012). This has special significance for practitioners in terms of reminding them to consider the value placed on particular constructs when working with clients from non-majority racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Having a cultural identity as someone who is religious may also effect one’s levels of gratitude in life. Research has found that religiousness is positively correlated with gratitude in general (Sandage, Hill, & Vaubel, 2011; Tsang, Schulwitz, & Carlisle, 2012) and that specific gratitude toward God (within Western Christian religion) “enhances the psychological benefit of gratitude” (Rosmarin, Pirutinsky, Cohen, Galler, & Krumrei, 2011, p. 389). Rosmarin and colleagues also found that the interaction of religious commitment and religious gratitude is particularly sensitive in being able to predict emotional well-being, above and beyond general gratitude. Thus, this cultural facet may be a protective one in this area.

Finally, it must be noted that multiple cultural facets (e.g., race + religious affiliation) may also play a dynamic role in effecting understanding, manifestation, and utility of various constructs. In light of the benefits purported to be received as a result of spiritual gratitude, Krause (2012) studied the role of gratitude toward God in Western

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