Lyubomirsky et al., 2004, Study 2, described in Lyubomirsky et al., 2005: Expressing gratitude through writing increased overall happiness among students after six weeks
Reference:
Lyubomirsky, S., Sousa, L., & Dickerhoof, R. (2004). The medium is the message: The costs and benefits of thinking, writing, and talking about life’s triumphs and defeats. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Download PDFSummary:
Asking students to reflect on things they are grateful for once a week for 6 weeks increased happiness over this period, as compared both to a no-treatment control group and students asked to think of things they are grateful three times a week.
Psychological Process:
What Desired Meaning is At Stake?
What is the Person Trying to Understand?
Selves (My Own and Others')Approach to Desired Meaning
What about it?
Changing beliefs about emotions, states, and the valence of the self-conceptHow?
Psychological Question Addressed
Do I think and feel positively about myself?Do I think and feel positively about myself?Psychological Question Addressed
Do I think and feel positively about myself?Psychological Process 2:
Psychological Process 3:
Social Area:
Well-Being
Intervention Technique:
Active reflection, on a positive aspect of self