The Amazing Effects of Gratitude

Summary

The script explores the concept of gratitude, historically considered the mother of all virtues by Cicero and later defined by Thomas Brown as a delightful emotion. While not a basic emotion with a universal expression, gratitude has been scientifically studied for its positive effects on well-being. Studies show that expressing gratitude can increase happiness and improve health, with benefits such as reduced stress and better heart health. The script also highlights that some individuals may be genetically predisposed to feel more gratitude, suggesting it plays a role in maintaining close social bonds.

Takeaways

• 📚 Gratitude has been a longstanding concept in both religion and philosophy, with Cicero referring to it as the mother of all virtues.
• 🎓 The Scottish philosopher Thomas Brown defined gratitude in 1820 as a delightful emotion of love towards those who have done us a kindness.
• 🧬 Scientifically, gratitude is not classified as a basic emotion like joy or anger, lacking a universal facial expression.
• 📚 The Oxford Dictionary's modern definition of gratitude emphasizes thankfulness and the appreciation of kindness.
• 🔬 Only in the past 30 years have we begun to study gratitude scientifically, with a 2015 study examining brain activity related to gratitude.
• 🧠 Brain imaging studies have shown that feelings of gratitude are linked to areas of the brain involved in fairness and value judgments.
• 📈 Research indicates that expressing gratitude can have tangible benefits, such as increased happiness and improved heart health.
• 📝 Writing down things for which one is grateful can lead to a sustained increase in happiness levels over time.
• 💖 Gratitude can also improve the quality of sleep and heart health, potentially due to its stress-reducing effects.
• 🧬 Some individuals may be genetically predisposed to experience and express gratitude more readily, influenced by oxytocin levels.
• ❤️ The act of expressing gratitude can strengthen social bonds and contribute to overall well-being.

Q & A

What did the philosopher Cicero describe gratitude as in Ancient Rome?

Cicero described gratitude as the mother of all virtues.

How did Scottish philosopher Thomas Brown define gratitude in 1820?

Thomas Brown defined gratitude as 'that delightful emotion, of love to him who has conferred a kindness on us.'

Why doesn't gratitude qualify as a basic emotion scientifically?

Gratitude doesn't qualify as a basic emotion because there is no universal facial expression associated with it.

What is the current definition of gratitude according to the Oxford Dictionary?

The Oxford Dictionary defines gratitude as 'the quality or condition of being thankful; the appreciation of an inclination to return kindness.'

How long have we been studying gratitude scientifically?

We have only really started studying gratitude scientifically in the past 30 years.

What was the premise of the 2015 study involving participants' brain activity in an fMRI machine?

The 2015 study asked participants to imagine how they would feel if a complete stranger saved their life and to rate their gratitude towards strangers who provided them with gifts of food and clothing while their brain was scanned in an fMRI machine.

What did the 2015 study find about the correlation between gratitude and brain activity?

The study found that participants' ratings of gratitude positively correlated with activity in brain areas associated with fairness and value judgments.

What were the benefits found in a study where people wrote down three things that went well each day for a week?

At the end of the week, people were slightly happier than at the beginning, and their happiness scores continued to improve, with a 5% increase after one month and a 9% increase after six months.

How did a gratitude journal impact participants with heart disease in another study?

The study found that keeping a gratitude journal increased the heart health and quality of sleep of participants with heart disease, possibly due to reduced stress.

What role does oxytocin play in the expression of gratitude, according to a recent study?

The study found that people with a particular genetic variation affecting oxytocin secretion expressed more gratitude towards their partners, suggesting that oxytocin plays a significant role in promoting close social bonds and gratitude acts as a bonding force.

What does the script suggest about the impact of expressing gratitude on our mind, body, and relationships?

The script suggests that expressing gratitude has amazing benefits for our mind, body, and relationships, making people happier and healthier.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Concept and Evolution of Gratitude

This paragraph delves into the historical and philosophical perspectives on gratitude, highlighting its significance as the 'mother of all virtues' according to Cicero. It also touches upon Thomas Brown's definition of gratitude as a 'delightful emotion' and acknowledges the complexity of defining gratitude scientifically, as it lacks a universal facial expression. The Oxford Dictionary's modern definition is provided, emphasizing thankfulness and the desire to reciprocate kindness. The scientific study of gratitude, which began about 30 years ago, is mentioned, along with a 2015 study that correlates feelings of gratitude with brain activity related to fairness and value judgments, suggesting its moral nature.

🧠 The Science and Benefits of Gratitude

This section explores the scientific research on gratitude, starting with a study where participants imagined being saved by a stranger and rated their gratitude while undergoing fMRI scans. The study revealed a positive correlation between gratitude and brain activity in areas linked to fairness and value judgments. The paragraph also discusses the benefits of practicing gratitude, such as increased happiness and improved heart health and sleep quality, as demonstrated in studies involving gratitude journaling and its impact on reducing stress. The conclusion emphasizes the positive effects of expressing gratitude on mental health, physical well-being, and relationships.

🧬 Genetics and the Role of Oxytocin in Gratitude

The final paragraph examines the genetic predisposition towards gratitude, referencing a study involving 77 couples that identified a genetic variation affecting oxytocin secretion as a factor in expressing more gratitude. Oxytocin's role in fostering close social bonds is discussed, suggesting that gratitude acts as a binding force in relationships. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the profound benefits of gratitude on the mind, body, and relationships, supported by scientific evidence.

Keywords

💡Gratitude

Gratitude is a multifaceted concept that refers to the feeling of thankfulness and appreciation for what one has received or experienced. In the context of the video, it is presented as a moral emotion and a quality that can be cultivated. The script mentions that gratitude has been stressed in religion and philosophy for a long time, and it is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as 'the quality or condition of being thankful; the appreciation of an inclination to return kindness.' The video also discusses the scientific study of gratitude and its benefits on happiness and health.

💡Virtues

Virtues are moral or ethical qualities that are considered valuable and desirable in a person. In the script, Cicero, an ancient Roman philosopher, is quoted as describing gratitude as the 'mother of all virtues,' suggesting that it is a foundational quality from which other virtues may stem. This highlights the historical and philosophical significance of gratitude as a core human value.

💡Basic Emotion

A basic emotion is a psychological state that is generally agreed upon as being innate and universal across cultures. The script clarifies that, scientifically, gratitude does not qualify as a basic emotion like joy, sadness, or anger because there is no universal facial expression associated with it. This distinction is important for understanding the complexity of gratitude as an emotion and its difference from more universally recognized emotions.

💡Fairness

Fairness refers to the quality of being just, equitable, and impartial. In the video, it is mentioned that the participants' ratings of gratitude were positively correlated with activity in brain areas associated with fairness and value judgments. This suggests that gratitude is linked to our sense of what is right and wrong, and our ability to assess the value of actions and intentions.

💡Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a hormone and neurotransmitter that plays a significant role in social bonding, trust, and affection. The script discusses a study where individuals with a particular genetic variation affecting oxytocin secretion expressed more gratitude towards their partners. This indicates that oxytocin may be a biological factor influencing gratitude and the strength of social bonds.

💡Journaling

Journaling is the practice of regularly writing down one's thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The video mentions a study where participants were asked to write down three things that went well each day for a week, which led to increased happiness over time. This practice is an example of how expressing gratitude can have positive psychological effects.

💡Happiness

Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment. The script highlights the benefits of gratitude on happiness, with studies showing that expressing gratitude can lead to increased happiness levels. For instance, participants who kept a gratitude journal were found to be 5% happier after one month and 9% happier after six months.

💡Heart Health

Heart health refers to the condition and functioning of the heart, often related to lifestyle choices and overall well-being. In the context of the video, keeping a gratitude journal is mentioned as a practice that can improve heart health, particularly among participants with heart disease, possibly due to the stress-reducing effects of gratitude.

💡Quality of Sleep

Quality of sleep pertains to the restorative and regenerative aspects of sleep, which are crucial for overall health. The script suggests that expressing gratitude, such as through journaling, can improve sleep quality, which may be due to the stress-relieving benefits of gratitude.

💡Social Bonds

Social bonds are the connections and relationships that individuals form with others. The video discusses how gratitude can act as a glue that keeps relationships together, especially in the context of a genetic variation that affects oxytocin secretion and gratitude expression. This highlights the role of gratitude in fostering and maintaining close social ties.

💡Emotional Expression

Emotional expression refers to the way individuals convey their emotions through facial expressions, body language, and verbal communication. The script notes that there is no universal facial expression for gratitude, which differentiates it from basic emotions that have recognizable expressions across cultures.

Highlights

Cicero described gratitude as the mother of all virtues.

Gratitude has been stressed in religion and philosophy for a long time.

Thomas Brown defined gratitude as a delightful emotion of love to a benefactor.

Gratitude is not a basic emotion like joy, sadness, or anger.

There is no universal facial expression for gratitude.

The Oxford Dictionary defines gratitude as being thankful and appreciative.

Scientific study of gratitude began in the past 30 years.

A 2015 study found a correlation between gratitude and brain activity related to fairness and value judgments.

Gratitude is considered a moral emotion.

Noting gratitude can increase happiness over time.

Writing down three positive events daily can improve happiness scores.

Gratitude journaling can improve heart health and sleep quality.

Gratitude reduces stress, contributing to health benefits.

Expressing gratitude can make people happier and healthier.

Some individuals have a genetic predisposition to express more gratitude.

A genetic variation affecting oxytocin secretion is linked to increased gratitude.

Oxytocin promotes close social bonds, and gratitude is part of the relational glue.

Saying 'thank you' has significant benefits for the mind, body, and relationships.

Transcripts

Back in Ancient Rome, the philosopher Cicero described gratitude as the mother of all virtues.

This concept of being thankful has been stressed in religion and philosophy for a long time.

Back in 1820 Scottish philosopher Thomas Brown defined gratitude as “that delightful emotion

of love to him who has conferred a kindness on us.”

But scientifically, gratitude doesn’t qualify as a basic emotion like joy, sadness or anger.

There’s no universal facial expression for it. As an emotion, gratitude is a little hard

to define.

Today the Oxford Dictionary defines gratitude as “the quality or condition of being thankful;

the appreciation of an inclination to return kindness.” And we’ve only really started

to study gratitude scientifically in the past 30 years.

In a 2015 study, participants were asked to imagine how they would feel if a complete

stranger saved their life. I mean, how would you feel? The participants had to rate how

grateful they were to strangers who provided them with gifts of food and clothing – all

while they had their brain scanned in an fMRI machine.

Researchers found their ratings of gratitude positively correlated with activity in brain

areas associated with fairness and value judgements. It makes sense because gratitude is often

thought of as a moral emotion.

There are even benefits in just noting how grateful you are. Another study asked people

to write down three things that went well that day and why for one week. At the end

of the week people were slightly happier than at the beginning, and over time, their happiness

scores kept improving. After one month they were 5% happier and after six months they

were 9% happier. Just from one week of writing a journal.

A similar study with participants with heart disease found that keeping a gratitude journal

increased their heart health and quality of sleep, perhaps because it reduces stress.

“Counting your blessings” quite literally makes people happier and healthier.

And some people are even hardwired to be more thankful. In a recent study of 77 couples,

those with a particular genetic variation that affects the secretion of oxytocin expressed

more gratitude towards their partners. Oxytocin is thought to play a big role in promoting

close social bonds, so gratitude is part of the glue that keeps these relationships together.

So if you think it’s the thought that counts, think again. Science shows there are some

pretty amazing benefits to our mind, body and relationships when we say those two small

words –

thank you.