Gratitude, Feelings of Indebtedness, and Impulsivity

Gratitude is defined as a state of being in which a person is able to acknowledge and appreciate something they have benefitted from. From a social perspective, gratitude can involve thanking another person for a kind act. Research has shown that gratitude can encourage self-improvement, feelings of connection, and humility. Most of the research available surrounds the positive emotions that accompany gratitude. There is a gap in the literature on how gratitude evokes and is accompanied by negative emotions. Following the guidance of Katie Nelson-Coffey and John Coffey, this study will evaluate whether gratitude increases feelings of indebtedness and decreases impulsivity.