RESEARCH PROJECT

Submitted To: Prof. Dayeeta Roy

Subject: Scientific Studies of Mind, Matter, Spirit and Consciousness
Topic: The Science Of Gratitude
Branch: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Written By:- 1.Soham Inamke 1032222434
2. Manav Alhat 1032222458
3. Tanish Lahamge 1032222298
4. Aaditya Chougule 1032232660
5. Subahan Shikalgar 1032230952
 The Science of Gratitude

Abstract:
We all have been hearing about how gratitude is important to be successful in life and be at
peace. Gratitude makes you humble and makes you realize that being grateful for what you have
is far better than being the opposite.
But what exactly is Gratitude? Where does it come from? How different people have different
behaviors and views on being grateful. Scientists have been researching on the science and
biological aspect of gratitude since long time. The theories found through their research are the
subject and content of this paper.
What Is Gratitude?
Saying a genuine "thank you" to someone is an expression of gratitude each and every time. It Is
associated with respect, acknowledgment, and appreciation. Consider a moment when someone
comforted you during a tough time, listened to you when you were depressed, or offered you
their shoulder to cry on. You have good feelings about those who support and help you. By
doing this, you can improve the bonds you have with the people in your social circle.

Gratitude can be shown in various ways. It's not always necessary to express thankfulness. A
simple smile or firm handshake might work wonders at times. Praying is the highest form of
gratitude for many people, while it's more tangible for others—like receiving a gift or a
thoughtful message.

Why Is Gratitude Important?

Developing a habit of saying "thank you" when it's due, maintaining a positive outlook, and
nurturing relationships with friends and family are all made possible by practicing gratitude.

A common thought is of a far-off future and the perfect circumstance that will bring us
happiness. We believe that "I'll be happier if I can have a bigger house" or "I'll finally be happy
if I can move to another country." However, contentment is achievable even in the present. Little
things like traveling, going out with friends, and listening to your favorite music are what really
matter.

Gratitude makes it easier to appreciate what you have rather than concentrating on what you
lack. Not that you shouldn't have goals, but it's vital to keep that in mind.
Hypothesis:

Gratitude is a way of being polite. Gratitude makes you humble. But often we see that grateful or
humble person are easily taken for granted and may feel embarrassed for how they are. But no
one understands the science or even a simple logic behind why or how they are the way they are.

Arguments:

The Dark Side of Gratitude: Although this publication, like the most majority of published
research, which mostly concentrates on the advantages of thankfulness, there are some proof that
thankfulness has a serious negative side that needs to be investigated more. For instance, one
study discovered that individuals with impairments who were dependent on unpaid caregivers
frequently experienced feelings of burdensome thankfulness. They specifically mentioned
feeling compelled to demonstrate their thanks in order to get the help they required, as well as
feeling ashamed and irritated about the one-sided nature of their dependent relationships. On the
other hand, those with impairments who could afford to pay for official assistance had a greater
sense of comfort and control over their lives. Although it fosters and preserves relationships,
gratitude also has a darker aspect.

What Science Says About Gratitude?

Origins of Gratitude: Gratitude is not simply associated with humans, but we can find it in non-
humans too. We see dogs being loyal to their parents and protecting them. This act of loyalty by
them can be counted as gratitude.
Studies show that chimpanzees show gratitude for caretaker by hugging them. Also chimpanzees
share their food with other chimpanzees who have groomed them earlier that day.

Actually, the connection between thankfulness and reciprocal altruism could contribute to the
understanding of why people express greater gratitude for advantages. More so for comparable
advantages from strangers or farther-off acquaintances than they do from close relatives (as
demonstrated in (Bar-Tal, Bar-Zohar, Greenberg, & Hermon, 1977) and (Rotkirch, Lyons,
David-Barrett, & Jokela, 2014)) and the fact that feeling grateful makes people more trusting of
others—but only of those they don't know well yet (Dunn & Schweitzer, 2005).

Gratitude and Genetics:

We know that newborn inherits some physical properties/appearances from their parents. But the
same way behavior may also get inherited. A few researches have looked into the possibility that
certain people's increased dispositional gratitude can be attributed to heredity. In one study, twins
ranked how much they believed they embodied each of the 24 character traits on a survey called
Values in Action (Steger, Hicks, Kashdan, Krueger, & Bouchard, 2007) . The strength of the
correlation in self-reported gratitude was greater among identical twins—who are essentially
genetically identical—than among fraternal twins, who share 50% of their DNA. This finding is
similar to other twin study results that have identified the genetic components of Origins of
Gratitude 18 psychological traits, indicating that there may be a genetic component to gratitude.
Which genes could be responsible for this genetic aspect of thankfulness? According to one
study, a specific variant in the CD38 which is involved in the release of oxytocin, sometimes
known as "the love hormone," was found to be strongly correlated with the frequency and quality
of expressions of gratitude directed toward a romantic partner. Therefore, was notably correlated
with the caliber and regularity of statements of appreciation to a love relationship.
Physical Benefits of Gratitude:
A study in 1995 states that when people felt appreciation, or an emotion of gratefulness from
others, their heart rate variability, an indicator of good heart health. Other studies have found out
that more grateful people report better physical health. A longitudinal study called as Gratitude
Research in Acute Coronary Events(GRACE) found that higher levels of trait gratitude were
associated with biomarkers indicating less inflammation and improved blood vessel function two
weeks.

Can programs aimed at cultivating thankfulness also enhance well-being and virtuous behaviors?

Emmons and McCullough discovered that undergraduate participants who were randomized to
record five things each week for ten weeks—a practice known as "counting blessings" or
"gratitude journaling"—reported exercising much more and experiencing fewer physical
complaints than those who were assigned to record five daily events or five hassles (Emmons &
McCullough, 2003). A study of middle school students discovered that those who completed a
similar "counting blessings" activity for two weeks did not exhibit any differences in physical
symptoms or amount of time spent exercising. However, a second trial, in which college students
were asked to count their blessings daily for 14 days, did not find any differences in these
respects.

Mental Benefits of Gratitude:

Individuals with more dispositional thankfulness report possessing greater levels of a number of
factors related to psychological well-being, such as more life contentment. Studies have
discovered connections between particular expressions of thankfulness and wellbeing.

Even after adjusting for their gender, age, religion, personality traits, and dispositional gratitude,
those who practiced "higher-order gratitude"—which includes thanking God, appreciating
blessings, appreciating hardships, and cherishing the moment—also reported higher life
satisfaction and positive affect. According to a different study, a person's subjective well-being
increased linearly with the number of gratitude-related behaviors they scored highly on. These
behaviors included their understanding of when to express gratitude, their grateful emotions,
their attitudes toward gratitude, and their understanding of when it is appropriate. These findings
suggest that there may be more than one aspect of gratitude that can contribute to happiness.
How do you add Gratitude in your Life?

1. Say THANK YOU

This is the easiest and most underappreciated way to show your gratitude. Give thanks to
your friends, parents, and everybody else who has ever helped you, no matter how small.

Additionally, it's critical to acknowledge your coworkers because doing so can foster
positive relationships with your supervisors, peers, and junior employees. When a
meeting or conversation comes to a close, thank them by email or note for their time. Try
To Appreciate What Others Do For You.

2. Create An Upbeat Attitude…

Having a positive start to your morning will alter the trajectory of your day. You must
take specific actions that lead you down that path if you want to be happy. It could seem
easier said than done. But what if we began uplifting ourselves rather than demeaning
ourselves? A lot of people use daily affirmations to foster a positive outlook on life.
“These Are A Few Of The Affirmations:

Nothing I Cannot Achieve

I'm an individual.

There Are Countless Opportunities

I Have Enough”

3. Accept Who You Are!!!

You will learn to accept yourself as you are the moment you begin to build yourself up.
You Must Take Care of Yourself and Have Gratitude for Who You've Been in Order to
Advance Personally. You Have To Love Your Own Efforts Before You Can Begin To
Appreciate Others. It's crucial to remember that you've put in a lot of work to get to
where you are. The only person you need to prove yourself to is yourself. How hard you
have worked is something only you know!
Our Idea of Gratitude:
When it comes to what we think about gratitude, it off course makes you a humble person. It
makes you safeguard your relationships with your family, friends, relatives or even pets.
Gratitude for a stranger showcases your behavior as humble and kind and may help you increase
your friend circle. It helps you be self-contended and indirectly calms your mind and pleases you
with idea of being satisfied and grateful.
But on the counterparts, I think that if you are showing gratitude for someone who’s a jerk, or
doing an injustice to you then at such consequences one must rebel or try to protect our dignity
than being dragged away with what’s wrong happening to you. So while concluding we would
suggest that be grateful but self-respect being your first priority.

How Our Report is Different from Others?

While all the reports floating up on the internet mention about gratitude, its importance, benefits
and opinions; our report also mentions the ways by which one can develop gratitude in their life
and make their physical, mental and social life peaceful.

References:
https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/GGSC-JTF_White_Paper-Gratitude-FINAL.pdf
https://harappa.education/harappa-diaries/what-is-gratitude/
https://research.com/education/scientific-benefits-of-gratitude#:~:text=Gratitude%20contributes
%20to%20happiness.,other%20positive%20aspects%20of%20life