A Review of Gratitude Research in Organizational Management: A Multi-level Theoretical Model

Abstract

Abstract: In recent years, organizational scholars and practitioners have gradually realized the positive role of gratitude in management. However, given the relatively short research history in organizational management, relevant theories and empirical studies need to be enriched and improved urgently. Based on the existing researches, this paper specifies the concept, characteristics and measurement of gratitude, and reviews relevant literature on factors affecting gratitude at event, individual and organizational level. Further, this paper investigates the mechanism of gratitude based on the Amplification Theory of Gratitude, Broaden and Build Theory, Find-Remind-and-Bind Theory and Gratitude as A Moral Affect Perspective, and constructs a multi-level theoretical model of gratitude. Finally, concerning the limitations of the existing researches, this paper proposes six future research directions, specifically, to pay attention to the interpersonal interaction of gratitude, to examine the mechanisms and boundary factors related to gratitude, to broaden research on gratitude from different theoretical perspectives, to explore the spillover effect on gratitude, to enrich gratitude from different levels and domains, and to optimize the research methods of gratitude, in hope of promoting the research on gratitude in organizational management.

Key words: gratitude, organizational management, theoretical model, future research directions

Guo Yirong, Song Jiwen, Zheng Xiaoming, Chen Limei. A Review of Gratitude Research in Organizational Management: A Multi-level Theoretical Model[J]. Management Review, 2021, 33(1): 188-200.

References

[1] Emmons R. A. Acts of Gratitude in Organizations[A]. In Cameron K. S., Dutton J. E., Quinn R. E. (Eds.). Positive Organizational Scholarship:Foundations of a New Discipline[C]. San Francisco:Berrett-Koehler, 2003
[2] Wood A. M., Froh J. J., Geraghty A. W. Gratitude and Well-Being:A Review and Theoretical Integration[J]. Clinical Psychology Review, 2010,30(7):890-905
[3] Spence J. R., Brown D. J., Keeping L. M., et al. Helpful Today, But Not Tomorrow? Feeling Grateful as a Predictor of Daily Organizational Citizenship Behaviors[J]. Personnel Psychology, 2014,67(3):705-738
[4] Grant A. M., Wrzesniewski A. I Won't Let You Down… or Will I? Core Self-Evaluations, Other-Orientation, Anticipated Guilt and Gratitude, and Job Performance[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2010,95(1):108-121
[5] Lambert N. M., Clark M. S., Durtschi J., et al. Benefits of Expressing Gratitude:Expressing Gratitude to a Partner Changes One's View of the Relationship[J]. Psychological Science, 2010,21(4):574-580
[6] Ng T. W. Embedding Employees Early on:The Importance of Workplace Respect[J]. Personnel Psychology, 2016,69(3):599-633
[7] Kim Y. J. Y., Van Dyne L., Lee S. M. A Dyadic Model of Motives, Pride, Gratitude, and Helping[J]. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2018,39(10):1367-1382
[8] Fehr R., Fulmer A., Awtrey E., et al. The Grateful Workplace:A Multilevel Model of Gratitude in Organizations[J]. Academy of Management Review, 2017,42(2):361-381
[9] 郭一蓉,宋继文,李雪. 体验抽样法与准实验法的结合探究:基于组织中感恩研究的应用与展望[J]. 中国人力资源开发, 2019,36(1):55-71
[10] McCullough M. E., Emmons R. A., Tsang J. A. The Grateful Disposition:A Conceptual and Empirical Topography[J]. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2002,82(1):112-127
[11] McCullough M. E., Tsang J. A., Emmons R. A. Gratitude in Intermediate Affective Terrain:Links of Grateful Moods to Individual Differences and Daily Emotional Experience[J]. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2004,86(2):295-309
[12] 梁宏宇,陈石,熊红星,等. 人际感恩:社会交往中重要的积极情绪[J]. 心理科学进展, 2015,23(3):479-488
[13] McCullough M. E., Kilpatrick S. D., Emmons R. A., et al. Is Gratitude a Moral Affect?[J]. Psychological Bulletin, 2001,127(2):249-266
[14] Davis D. E., Choe E., Meyers J., et al. Thankful for the Little Things:A Meta-Analysis of Gratitude Interventions[J]. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 2016,63(1):20-31
[15] Cain I. H., Cairo A., Duffy M., et al. Measuring Gratitude at Work[J]. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2019,14(4):440-451
[16] Ford M. T., Wang Y., Jin J., et al. Chronic and Episodic Anger and Gratitude toward the Organization:Relationships with Organizational and Supervisor Supportiveness and Extrarole Behavior[J]. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 2018,23(2):175-187
[17] 王红丽,陈思宇. 状态感恩的激发过程、影响效应及边界条件研究[J]. 管理学报, 2019,16(11):1640-1649
[18] Lee H. W., Bradburn J., Johnson R. E., et al. The Benefits of Receiving Gratitude for Helpers:A Daily Investigation of Proactive and Reactive Helping at Work[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2019,104(2):197-213
[19] Thompson P. S., Bolino M. C. Negative Beliefs about Accepting Coworker Help:Implications for Employee Attitudes, Job Performance, and Reputation[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2018,103(8):842-866
[20] Wood A. M., Maltby J., Stewart N., et al. A Social-Cognitive Model of Trait and State Levels of Gratitude[J]. Emotion, 2008,8(2):281-290
[21] Grant A., Dutton J. Beneficiary or Benefactor[J]. Psychological Science, 2012,23(9):1033-1039
[22] Cheng S. T., Tsui P. K., Lam J. H. Improving Mental Health in Health Care Practitioners:Randomized Controlled Trial of a Gratitude Intervention[J]. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2015,83(1):177-186
[23] Crawford J. L., Haaland G. A. Predecisional Information Seeking and Subsequent Conformity in the Social Influence Process[J]. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972,23(1):112-119
[24] Hu X., Kaplan S. Is "Feeling Good" Good Enough? Differentiating Discrete Positive Emotions at Work[J]. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2015,36(1):39-58
[25] Sun J., Liden R. C., Ouyang L. Are Servant Leaders Appreciated? An investigation of How Relational Attributions Influence Employee Feelings of Gratitude and Prosocial Behaviors[J]. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2019,40(5):528-540
[26] 陈璐,杨百寅,井润田,等. 家长式领导、冲突与高管团队战略决策效果的关系研究[J]. 南开管理评论, 2010,13(5):4-11
[27] 叶娜. 伦理型教练对运动员体育道德行为的影响:一个有调节的中介模型[J]. 武汉体育学院学报, 2016,50(11):66-69
[28] Wood A. M., Maltby J., Stewart N., et al. Conceptualizing Gratitude and Appreciation as a Unitary Personality Trait[J]. Personality and Individual Differences, 2008,44(3):621-632
[29] Kozlowski S. W. J. Groups and Teams in Organizations:Studying the Multilevel Dynamics of Emergence[A]. In Hollingshead A. B., Poole M. S. (Eds.), Methods for Studying Small Groups:A Behind-The-Scenes Guide[C]. New York:Routledge, 2012
[30] Watkins P. C. Gratitude and the Good Life:Toward a Psychology of Appreciation[M]. New York:Springer, 2014
[31] Watkins P. C., Woodward K., Stone T., et al. Gratitude and Happiness:Development of a Measure of Gratitude, and Relationships with Subjective Well-being[J]. Social Behavior and Personality, 2003,31(5):431-451
[32] Wood A. M., Maltby J., Gillett R., et al. The Role of Gratitude in the Development of Social Support, Stress, and Depression:Two Longitudinal Studies[J]. Journal of Research in Personality, 2008,42(4):854-871
[33] 张巍,朱泽,陈萌萌,等. 工作场所中的主观幸福感干预研究[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2014,12(6):831-839
[34] Rash J. A., Matsuba M. K., Prkachin K. M. Gratitude and Well-Being:Who Benefits the Most from a Gratitude Intervention?[J]. Applied Psychology Health & Well-being, 2011,3(3):350-369
[35] McCraty R., Atkinson M., Tiller W. A., et al. The Effects of Emotions on Short-Term Power Spectrum Analysis of Heart Rate Variability[J]. The American Journal of Cardiology, 1995,76(14):1089-1093
[36] Wood A. M., Joseph S., Lloyd J., et al. Gratitude Influences Sleep through the Mechanism of Pre-Sleep Cognitions[J]. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 2009,66(1):43-48
[37] Danner D. D., Snowdon D. A., Friesen W. V. Positive Emotions in Early Life and Longevity:Findings from the Nun Study[J]. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2001,80(5):804-813
[38] Fredrickson B. L. Gratitude, like Other Positive Emotions, Broadens and Builds[A]. In Emmons R. A., McCullough M. E. (Eds.), The Psychology of Gratitude[C]. New York:Oxford University Press, 2004
[39] DeSteno D., Li Y., Dickens L., et al. Gratitude:A Tool for Reducing Economic Impatience[J]. Psychological Science, 2014,25(6):1262-1267
[40] Dickens L., DeSteno D. The Grateful Are Patient:Heightened Daily Gratitude Is Associated with Attenuated Temporal Discounting[J]. Emotion, 2016,16(4):421-425
[41] Chen L. H., Wu C. H. Gratitude Enhances Change in Athletes' Self-Esteem:The Moderating Role of Trust in Coach[J]. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 2014,26(3):349-362
[42] Wood A. M., Joseph S., Maltby J. Gratitude Predicts Psychological Well-Being above the Big Five Facets[J]. Personality and Individual Differences, 2009,46(4):443-447
[43] Lambert N. M., Fincham F. D., Stillman T. F. Gratitude and Depressive Symptoms:The Role of Positive Reframing and Positive Emotion[J]. Cognition Emotion, 2012,26(4):615-633
[44] Lanham M., Rye M., Rimsky L., et al. How Gratitude Relates to Burnout and Job Satisfaction in Mental Health Professionals[J]. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 2012,34(4):341-354
[45] Wood A. M., Joseph S., Linley P. A. Coping Style as a Psychological Resource of Grateful People[J]. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 2007,26(9):1076-1093
[46] Sutcliffe K. M., Vogus T. J. Organizing for Resilience[A]. In Cameron K. S., Dutton J. E., Quinn R. E. (Eds.), Positive Organizational Scholarship:Foundations of a New Discipline[C]. San Francisco:Berrett-Koehler, 2003
[47] Lambert N. M., Fincham F. D. Expressing Gratitude to a Partner Leads to More Relationship Maintenance Behavior[J]. Emotion, 2011,11(1):52-60
[48] Michie S. Pride and Gratitude:How Positive Emotions Influence the Prosocial Behaviors of Organizational Leaders[J]. Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, 2009,15(4):393-403
[49] 彭小平,田喜洲,郭小东. 组织中的亲社会行为研究述评与展望[J]. 外国经济与管理, 2019,41(5):115-128
[50] Vlachos P. A., Panagopoulos N. G., Rapp A. A. Employee Judgments of and Behaviors toward Corporate Social Responsibility:A Multi-Study Investigation of Direct, Cascading, and Moderating Effects[J]. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2014,35(7):990-1017
[51] Algoe S. B. Find, Remind, and Bind:The Functions of Gratitude in Everyday Relationships[J]. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2012,6(6):455-469
[52] Williams L. A., Bartlett M. Y. Warm Thanks:Gratitude Expression Facilitates Social Affiliation in New Relationships via Perceived Warmth[J]. Emotion, 2015,15(1):1-5
[53] Froh J., Bono G. Gratitude in School:Benefits to Students and Schools[A]. In Gilman R., Huebner E. S., Furlong M. J. (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology in Schools[C]. New York:Routledge, 2009
[54] Algoe S. B., Haidt J., Gable S. L. Beyond Reciprocity:Gratitude and Relationships in Everyday Life[J]. Emotion, 2008,8(3):425-429
[55] Algoe S. B., Fredrickson B. L., Gable S. L. The Social Functions of the Emotion of Gratitude via Expression[J]. Emotion, 2013,13(4):605-609
[56] van Knippenberg D., van Kleef G. A. Leadership and Affect:Moving the Hearts and Minds of Followers[J]. Academy of Management Annals, 2016,10(1):799-840
[57] Ritzenhöfer L., Brosi P., Spörrle M., et al. Leader Pride and Gratitude Differentially Impact Follower Trust[J]. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 2017,32(6):445-459
[58] Andersson L. M., Giacalone R. A., Jurkiewicz C. L. On the Relationship of Hope and Gratitude to Corporate Social Responsibility[J]. Journal of Business Ethics, 2007,70(4):401-409
[59] Algoe S. B., Gable S. L., Maisel N. C. It's the Little Things:Everyday Gratitude as a Booster Shot for Romantic Relationships[J]. Personal Relationships, 2010,17(2):217-233
[60] 刘军,朱征,王琦琦,等. 工作场所感恩研究述评与展望[J]. 外国经济与管理, 2019,41(9):61-74
[61] Van Kleef G. A., van den Berg H., Heerdink M. W. The Persuasive Power of Emotions:Effects of Emotional Expressions on Attitude Formation and Change[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2015,100(4):1124-1142
[62] Algoe S. B., Stanton A. L. Gratitude When It Is Needed Most:Social Functions of Gratitude in Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer[J]. Emotion, 2012,12(1):163
[63] Dwiwardani C., Hill P. C., Bollinger R. A., et al. Virtues Develop from a Secure Base:Attachment and Resilience as Predictors of Humility, Gratitude, and Forgiveness[J]. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 2014,42(1):83-90
[64] Mathews M. A., Green J. D. Looking at Me, Appreciating You:Self-focused Attention Distinguishes Between Gratitude and Indebtedness[J]. Cognition & Emotion, 2010,24(4):710-718
[65] Ritzenhöfer L., Brosi P., Spörrle M., et al. Satisfied with the Job, But Not with the Boss:Leaders' Expressions of Gratitude and Pride Differentially Signal Leader Selfishness, Resulting in Differing Levels of Followers' Satisfaction[J]. Journal of Business Ethics, 2019,158(4):1185-1202
[66] Algoe S. B., Haidt J. Witnessing Excellence in Action:The ‘Other-Praising’ Emotions of Elevation, Gratitude, and Admiration[J]. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2009,4(2):105-127
[67] Cho Y., Fast N. J. Power, Defensive Denigration, and the Assuaging Effect of Gratitude Expression[J]. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 2012,48(3):778-782
[68] Denison D. R. What Is the Difference between Organizational Culture and Organizational Climate? A Native's Point of View on a Decade of Paradigm Wars[J]. Academy of Management Review, 1996,21(3):619-654
[69] Colquitt J. A., Conlon D. E., Wesson M. J., et al. Justice at the Millenium:A Meta-Analytic Review of 25 Years of Organizational Justice Research[J]. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2001,86(3):425-445
[70] Rodell J. B. Finding Meaning through Volunteering:Why do Employees Volunteer and What does It Mean for Their Jobs?[J]. Academy of Management Journal, 2013,56(5):1274-1294
[71] Liu D., Liao H., Loi R. The Dark Side of Leadership:A Three-level Investigation of the Cascading Effect of Abusive Supervision on Employee Creativity[J]. Academy of Management Journal, 2012,55(5):1187-1212
[72] ten Brummelhuis L. L., Bakker A. B. A Resource Perspective on the Work-Home Interface:The Work-Home Resources Model[J]. American Psychologist, 2012,67(7):545-556
[73] Xia L., Kukar-Kinney M. For Our Valued Customers Only:Examining Consumer Responses to Preferential Treatment Practices[J]. Journal of Business Research, 2014,67(11):2368-2375
[74] Kwak D. H., Kwon Y. Can an Organization's Philanthropic Donations Encourage Consumers to Give? The Roles of Gratitude and Boundary Conditions[J]. Journal of Consumer Behavior, 2016,15(4):348-358
[75] McKenny A. F., Short J. C., Payne G. T. Using Computer-Aided Text Analysis to Elevate Constructs:An Illustration Using Psychological Capital[J]. Organization Research Methods, 2013,16(1):152-84
[76] 李杰,陈超美. CiteSpace:科技文本挖掘及可视化[M]. 北京:首都经济贸易大学出版社, 2016