Journey 5 · Gratitude
Thanked by Their Manager, Fundraisers Made More Calls
In one field experiment, university fundraisers thanked by their manager made more calls; feeling socially valued, not more capable, explained the rise.
In a field experiment with university fundraisers, a thank-you from their manager increased the number of calls they made (Grant & Gino, 2010). When the researchers tested why, feeling socially valued explained the rise; feeling more confident in their own abilities did not.
It fits an older proposal that gratitude works as a moral reinforcer, making kindness more likely to happen again (McCullough et al., 2001). The fundraiser result comes from one field experiment, so read it as early evidence rather than a settled law. Still, it suggests a thank-you is more than good manners; it can tell people their effort is valued.
Journey 5, Gratitude, which Zawadi guides, sees a thank-you as more than a formality: it's one way to keep kindness moving. Who helped you this week and hasn't yet heard it from you?
The research
Growing evidence Real research that's still building — results are promising and still being tested.
- Grant, A. M., & Gino, F. (2010). A little thanks goes a long way: Explaining why gratitude expressions motivate prosocial behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98(6), 946–955.
- McCullough, M. E., Kilpatrick, S. D., Emmons, R. A., & Larson, D. B. (2001). Is gratitude a moral affect? Psychological Bulletin, 127(2), 249–266.
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