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Helping acts, however well intended and beneficial, sometimes involve immoral means or immoral helpers. Here, we explore whether help recipients consider moral evaluations in their appraisals of gratitude, a possibility that has been neglected by existing accounts of gratitude. Participants felt less grateful and more uneasy when offered immoral help (Study 1, N = 150), and when offered morally neutral help by an immoral helper (Study 2, N = 172). In response to immoral help or helpers, participants were less likely to accept the help and less willing to strengthen their relationship with the helper even when they accepted it. Study 3 (N = 276) showed that recipients who felt grateful when offered immoral help were perceived as less likable, less moral, and less suitable as close relationship partners than those who felt uneasy by observers. Our results demonstrate that gratitude is morally sensitive and suggest this might be socially adaptive.

There is a gap in whether relationship power affects the association between gratitude and relationship satisfaction in romantic relationships. Based on the relationship maintenance model and the social distance theory of power, the present study adopted a digital questionnaire design on an online platform to test the mediating role of perceived partner responsiveness between gratitude and satisfaction as well as the moderating role of relationship power. A total of 825 subjects (Mage = 27.2, SD = 10.6; female 46.9%) who had been in romantic relationships for more than six months participated in this study. Overall, the results of the moderator–mediator model indicated that, compared to individuals with low levels of relationship power, the relationship between gratitude and perceived partner responsiveness as well as that between perceived partner responsiveness and relationship satisfaction was weaker among those with high levels of power. These findings are revealing for interventions designed to promote satisfaction between couples with power imbalances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a response to critics of the author's book on intentional objects and experience. The author clarifies their definition of intentional objects and addresses concerns raised by the critics. They argue that intentional objects, including appearances, are fully mind-dependent and exist in virtue of being represented by finite minds. The author also discusses the historical and contemporary use of intentional objects in philosophy and defends the usefulness of their account for explaining the nature of appearances. They address criticisms regarding the ontological status of intentional objects and the representation of empirical reality in Kantian philosophy, acknowledging alternative perspectives and the limitations of their own argument. The text concludes by discussing objections and responses to the author's account of experience in relation to Kantian philosophy, providing explanations and justifications while respecting diverse perspectives. [Extracted from the article]

This study examined the effects of journaling-based interventions on perceived relationship quality (i.e., mother-adolescent interactions and conflict) and gratitude among Chinese adolescents (ages 12–14 years) and their mothers (N = 339 dyads). Mother-adolescent dyads were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (i.e., gratitude, affection, and control), and kept a daily journal on assigned topics for 21 days. Participants' mother-adolescent relationship quality and level of gratitude were measured before and after the 21-day period. The findings showed that both the gratitude and affection interventions had positive impacts on mother-adolescent relationship quality (i.e., more positive mother-adolescent interactions and less conflict) with a small to medium effect size for adolescents but no impact for mothers. Gratitude did not change from pre-to post-intervention. The current study provides some preliminary support for implementing gratitude and affection interventions with Chinese adolescents to promote relationship quality, but suggests that the intervention works better for adolescents than mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To measure baseline work gratitude among nurses and staff on a blood and marrow transplantation unit; to evaluate the impact of a positive workplace recognition intervention on work gratitude, sense of belonging and community, and job satisfaction; and to explore the relationships among these variables and job satisfaction. SAMPLE & SETTING: In total, 40 survey responses (preintervention =24, postintervention = 16) were collected from nurses and staff on a blood and marrow transplantation unit at a large academic hospital. METHODS & VARIABLES: A pre- and postintervention survey included a demographic questionnaire and the Work Gratitude Scale. Publicfacing digital signage was installed and used to project positive recognition, including expressions of gratitude from patients and staff. RESULTS: Those with higher job satisfaction and a stronger sense of belonging and community reported higher work gratitude scores. There were no significant changes in job satisfaction, sense of belonging and community, and work gratitude scores. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Creating a positive work environment through gratitude and positive recognition could increase job satisfaction and sense of belonging and community among nurses and staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short empirically-supported scales or individual items are preferred in comprehensive surveys, brief screeners, and experience sampling studies. To that end, we examined the Short Almost Perfect Scale (SAPS) to evaluate empirical support for the interchangeability of items to measure perfectionistic strivings (Standards) and perfectionistic concerns (Discrepancy). Based on a large and diverse sample (N = 1,103) and tests of tau-equivalence (equal factor loadings) for each respective set of items, Study 1 advanced a subset of SAPS items to measure Standards (2 items) and Discrepancy (3 items). Cross-sectional gender and race/ethnicity invariance were supported, and in structural equations analyses, the SAPS5 factors were significantly associated with depression, state anxiety, life satisfaction, and gratitude. Study 2 cross-validated Study 1 measurement and structural findings with a new U.S. sample (N = 803). The three items representing the Discrepancy (perfectionistic concerns) factor also were supported in a cross-national comparison between the U.S. sample and a scale development sample in New Zealand (N = 3,921). For the most part, across both studies and all analyses, the three Discrepancy items were empirically interchangeable indicators of perfectionistic concerns and comparably strong predictors of psychological outcomes, supporting their use in studies or other contexts with space or time restrictions for measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hardships faced by youth experiencing or at-risk for experiencing homelessness, or opportunity youth, are well documented. Programs for these youth are often deficit-based, failing to recognize existing strengths to foster resilience. The Good Gifts Program is a positive youth development intervention created collaboratively with opportunity youth, service providers, and researchers to augment existing services with the goal of nurturing gratitude, generosity, and hope. We evaluated this pilot program during a period of wide-spread service disruption (in the summer of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic). Opportunity youth (n = 38; aged 16–24) completed up to four group sessions as well as pre- and post-test assessments, with daily diaries throughout. Results showed no overall evidence for program efficacy and, indeed, declines in gratitude, generosity, and hope with greater program attendance. The modest sample size and significant heterogeneity in program fidelity, participation, and context presented challenges to data interpretation and highlight considerations for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the decline in employee engagement worldwide as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on remote workers and Generation Z. It argues that effective cross-cultural leadership is crucial in addressing this issue and suggests that an interpretation of Romans 1:8-15 can offer valuable insights. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural contexts and modes of intellectual discourse in interpreting ideologies. It also discusses strategies such as expressing gratitude, recognizing and affirming employees, and embracing moral responsibility. The text highlights the impact of generational differences, particularly among Generation Z, and concludes that leaders who value and respect diverse cultures and generations can foster engaged employees and achieve positive organizational outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

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In this chapter, we explore the ways in which media postpandemic responses communicate clearly the excessive entitlement reflected in the public discourse about teachers. During the pandemic, we noted many parent posts on social media lauding teachers. They expressed gratitude for the challenges teachers faced in teaching students on distance platforms and moving learning forward. Yet, we noted that the media reports following the pandemic were noticed a shift in the discourse following the pandemic. Thus, we became interested in exploring how teachers were represented in public discourse following the pandemic. Since the public discourse on teachers has consistently reflected a deficit orientation, given the praise of teachers during the pandemic, we wondered if this acknowledgment of teachers' sacrifice and service might shift the discourse after the pandemic to more positively represent teachers. To pursue this inquiry, we collected and analyzed narratives and examples from postpandemic media representations where teachers and teacher educators were represented as nonpersons. We also collected anecdotes and research and media reports to examine the ways in which teachers were represented. We identified three themes: lack of teachers' voices, the teacher shortage, and loss of learning. Our analysis identifies how teachers and teacher educators are positioned within society and the impact of treating teachers as nonpersons on teachers and the teaching profession. Such depictions fail to represent the vital role of teachers in the progress of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A social planner wants to rank people. Utilitarianism implies that a natural ranking which orders people from most to least sensitive to their rank is the best ranking. But people's feelings toward the social planner, like blame or gratitude, can depend both on their assigned rank, and on the alternatives they might have been assigned. As a result, the social planner needs to do pairwise comparisons and there may not be a best ranking due to intransitive cycles. This paper shows the possibility of the coexistence of a best choice and non-transitivity. It illustrates how to tell when a best ranking exists, and that when it exists, it is indeed the natural ranking. When this best does not exist, an alternative second-best group ranking strategy is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bordering Ukraine, Poland has become the main escape channel for refugees fleeing from the disastrous war since its inception on 24 February 2022. The results of the study prove that the future of societies can be determined by the importance currently assigned to solidarity. The scale of support and assistance provided spontaneously by individuals and social movements in Poland over the last year has exceeded expectations and confirmed the feasibility of a tremendous potential of solidarity being dormant in Polish society as well as a readiness for selfless and effective actions. This research objective is to gain an insight into Poles' understanding of the hardships of the war, as well as the motives and emotional involvement driving their support for Ukrainian citizens. In parallel to that, the article examines the issue of bottom-up initiatives of solidarity from the perspective of the refugee influx. This research, which is qualitative in nature, is grounded on the technique of an epistolary narrative analysis of 43 letters written by Poles to unknown Ukrainians. Such qualitative methodology is characterized by typical limitations of this type of research (for example, little generalization is possible due to the size of the sample). However, the findings show that, through spontaneous solidarity and support, disapproval of the aggressor, admiration and gratitude to Ukrainian soldiers, the potential of the messages has boosted the rapprochement of the bonds between the two nations and alleviated the historical conflicts. The solidarity identified stands out and should be distinguished from any other crisis related to refugee phenomena as well as deserving further research from various perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the COVID‐19 pandemic, strict government interventions in China have been implemented for more than 3 years as of 2023. How do people of high or low social class respond to the prolonged COVID‐19 measures? Recent evidence has yielded inconsistent conclusions. In this study, we move beyond such debate and focus on the underlying motives that are closely related to both social class and COVID‐19 measure responses. Using a large Chinese sample (N = 1193, 48.50% women, Mage = 30.92 years, SD = 6.08), we found that participants with higher (vs. lower) social class, whether subjective or objective, reported greater gratitude, which in turn increased their willingness to support COVID‐19 measures (i.e. greater public health support and self‐prevention behaviour, and less pandemic burnout). However, those with higher (vs. lower) subjective social class also reported more psychological entitlement, which decreased their willingness to support COVID‐19 measures (i.e. less public health support and greater pandemic burnout). These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of how social class may influence people's response to COVID‐19 measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Design Methods Results Conclusions Patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) often experience poor well‐being. Common limitations of the studies on this topic involve using variable‐centred and deficit‐based approaches. In this study, we used the person‐centred approach to identify profiles of positive (life satisfaction and health status) and negative (depression, anxiety, fatigue, and stress) indicators of well‐being among patients with RMDs. Moreover, we tested self‐forgiveness, forgiveness of others, gratitude, and sociodemographics as contributors to latent profile membership.A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey.Using a latent profile analysis, we investigated well‐being profiles among 892 patients with RMDs (759 patients with arthritis and 133 with fibromyalgia [FM]) and examined the correlates of latent profile membership.We identified four profiles of well‐being: (1) ‘life dissatisfaction’ (9.2%), (2) ‘high well‐being’ (43.4%), (3) ‘suboptimal well‐being’ (35.2%), and (4) ‘very poor well‐being’ (12.2%). Members of Profile 2 had higher levels of self‐forgiveness and gratitude than members of the remaining profiles, had higher levels of forgiveness of others than Profile 3, and were older than members of Profile 4. Moreover, members of Profile 2 had a higher proportion of patients with arthritis relative to those with FM than all other profiles and men to women than Profile 4.Patients with RMDs are heterogeneous in terms of well‐being. Self‐forgiveness, gratitude, and forgiveness of others may serve as psychological capital that enhances patients' well‐being. Special attention should be paid to patients with FM, women, and younger patients since they can be especially susceptible to poor well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gratitude in the workplace can enhance work achievements and promote individual well‐being in organizational contexts. Although the Gratitude at Work Scale (GAWS) was developed in the USA, it has not been corroborated in the Persian culture. The purpose of this study was to validate the Persian version of the Gratitude at Work Scale (GAWS). Scale validation procedures included linguistic validation and face and content validity assessment by experts and analysis. There was a correlation of approximately 0.592 between two subscales of GAWS-MW and GAWS-SWE, indicating a moderate level of association. Scale validity analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between GAWS and measures gratitude (GQ6), gratitude toward God, subjective happiness and satisfaction with life scales. The Gratitude at Work Scale exhibited good psychometric properties in assessing the sense of gratitude at work in our population. This may contribute to improving overall individual and organizational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers play a significant societal role, yet many feel underappreciated, and commonly cite this as a reason for considering leaving the profession. This study investigated responses to the #ThankYourTeacher social media campaign, which was created to generate public expressions of gratitude towards teachers. Data were collected from Twitter, Instagram, a campaign website, and public events and thematically analysed. Orr's (1992) Head, Heart, and Hands Model of Transformational Learning was used as a framework for understanding the qualities of teachers and their teaching that participants appreciated. Notably, more individuals expressed gratitude for teachers' motivational and compassionate qualities (Heart) and their enthusiasm and leadership (Hands) than for their subject knowledge (Head). These findings underscore the importance of the teacher-student relationship and relational qualities over subject expertise. This study also highlights the potential for further research into the impacts of practicing gratitude towards teachers and increasing teachers' sense of being valued and appreciated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the book "Perfect: Feeling Judged on Social Media" and explores the concept of perfection and its impact on young people's lives on social media. It highlights the pressure to conform to societal beauty norms and the culture of surveillance on social media, which can lead to self-doubt and dissatisfaction. The article also discusses the intersection of body positivity and the pursuit of perfection, as well as the role of social media in promoting diversity and authenticity. It concludes by emphasizing the need for further feminist media studies and the potential for social media to foster connections and shape a new reality. [Extracted from the article]

Gratitude has proved to be an enhancer of subjective well-being in previous studies. However, studies that linked the relation between emotional intelligence and its facets when interacting with gratitude, are still limited. In this sense, this study examined the mediating roles of emotional intelligence between gratitude and subjective well-being indicators, by introducing the general factor of emotional intelligence. The first approach to data analysis was to examine the descriptive statistics; the second approach consisted of an Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling, applying also a bifactor analysis. Data was collected from 406 Spanish students, through an online survey that includes the gratitude, trait meta mood scale, satisfaction with life and subjective happiness scale. The mean age of participants was 20.27 years (SD = 4.68), whereas 79.5% were females. The results provided preliminary evidence of the mediation role of the general factor of emotional intelligence between gratitude and subjective wellbeing, which provided a meaningful insight about the role of trait emotional intelligence. These findings suggested that gratitude promotes emotional intelligence, allowing to an increase in subjective well-being. Nonetheless, there is a need for further research to achieve a better understanding of the role of the emotional intelligence facets between gratitude and subjective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gratitude skills training improves the forgiveness in mothers of students with visual impairment (VI). The current study aimed to explore the effects of gratitude intervention on forgiveness in mothers of students with VI. This research was a semi-randomized controlled trial design. Thirty mothers of students with VI were randomly chosen from Special School in Gachsaran, Iran. They were randomly replaced to treatment (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. The treatment group participated in nine-session 90-minute gratitude training, while the control group participated in general placebo sessions. Both groups responded to the Rye Forgiveness Scale (RFS) before and after the intervention. The results of the Univariate Analysis of Variance showed that the gratitude training significantly and positively influenced the forgiveness in the treatment group in the post-test (p < 0.001). The research suggests that gratitude training can promote forgiveness in mothers of students with VI. Results of this research increase the interest of parents of these students in gratitude training. Moreover, the gratitude skills intervention can be used as an intervention for improving forgiveness in mothers of students with VI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leniency, the act of lessening or removing a negative consequence for misconduct, is a means of addressing workplace misconduct. Although existing research has highlighted that the lenient reaction generally brings benefits, scholars have recently challenged this positive view of leniency by noting its negative outcomes. Drawing upon the attribution theory, we propose that the effects of leader leniency depend on subordinates' relational attributions of such lenient behavior. We conducted an experiment (Study 1, N = 229) and a multi-source and multi-wave survey (Study 2, N = 268). Study 1 used ANOVA analysis and Study 2 used path analysis and bias-corrected bootstrap method to test the model. Results showed that when the subordinate relational attribution is low, leader leniency will trigger subordinate gratitude and increase organizational citizenship behavior. Conversely, when the subordinate relational attribution is high, leader leniency will induce subordinate psychological entitlement, fueling workplace deviance. Our research provides new insight into understanding the losses and gains of leader leniency and identifies the role of relational attribution in the effects of leader leniency. Finally, we discuss our theoretical contributions and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the literary art of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, particularly his book "The Gulag Archipelago," which exposes the violence and lies of totalitarianism and defends human dignity and freedom. Solzhenitsyn believes that literature, committed to truth and the struggle between good and evil, can restore humanity. He also emphasizes the importance of cultural experiences and advocates for cultural pluralism and the preservation of distinct nations and peoples. Richard Tempest's book, "Overwriting Chaos: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's Fictive Worlds," provides a comprehensive analysis of Solzhenitsyn's literary techniques and their impact on his portrayal of Soviet society, offering valuable insights for researchers interested in understanding his contribution to Russian literature and exploration of the human condition. [Extracted from the article]

Money is often, but not always, considered an inappropriate gift. By considering recent insights in the social function of gratitude, we argue that the acceptability of money relies upon its capacity to evoke gratitude through conveying relational concerns. Study 1 (N = 240, US participants) revealed that monetary gifts are generally perceived as less acceptable and evoke less gratitude than non-monetary gifts of equivalent value. Furthermore, when monetary gifts were designated as specific gift coupons, they evoked more gratitude and were more acceptable. Study 2 (N = 471, Chinese participants) revealed that 520 RMB cash, symbolizing love in China, elicits increased gratitude and was therefore considered a favorable gift compared to similar amounts without such connotations. Taken together, we identify gratitude as the psychological mechanism underlying the acceptability of money and advocate for the recognition of monetary gifts with broader social, cultural, and psychological implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the extensive body of literature on the correlation between family dynamics and academic achievement among students, there remains a notable gap in research investigating the influence of parental educational involvement on student learning engagement. Based on the developmental–ecological model of student engagement and relevant theoretical frameworks, this study used the quantitative analysis method to construct a chain mediation model to test the relationship between parental educational involvement and the learning engagement of middle school students, as well as the potential mediating role of gratitude and hope. This study employed a cross-sectional study using whole-cluster random sampling to measure middle school students aged 11–18 years old in two schools over a one-week period. Through the use of self-reporting surveys, this study assessed the levels of parental educational involvement, gratitude, hope, and learning engagement among 754 middle school students (48% female; Mage = 14.83, SD = 1.65) in Hubei Province, China. The mediation effect was analyzed using regression analysis and the chained mediation model and tested via the Bootstrap method. The findings suggested that parental educational involvement significantly positively related to learning engagement among middle school students, while gratitude and hope serve as partial mediators in the relationship between parental educational involvement and learning engagement. These findings revealed the psychological mechanisms underlying the relationship between parental educational involvement and learning engagement among middle school students, providing valuable insights for enhancing their level of learning engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop novel theoretical insights regarding employees' reactions to servant leadership. Drawing on social exchange theory and the servant leadership literature, we propose that the needs–supplies fit between servant leaders and narcissistic employees can urge narcissistic employees to feel more grateful in response to servant leadership. In turn, employee gratitude is positively associated with organizational citizenship behavior and negatively associated with workplace deviance. We test our model across two studies, including a two-wave field survey study of 344 employees and their 80 leaders (Study 1) and a scenario-based experimental study of 100 participants (Study 2). The findings support our theoretical model that, at a higher (versus lower) level of employee narcissism, servant leadership enhances organizational citizenship behavior and reduces workplace deviance through enhanced employee gratitude. We discuss our contributions to the servant leadership literature and present practical implications for organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a collection of abstracts from various research studies presented at the International Journal of Psychology. The studies cover a range of topics, including nonordinary experiences and mental health, self-transcendent emotions in Brazil, the anthropomorphization of supernatural entities in Brazilian syncretic religions, the relationship between drug consumption and religiosity, and spirituality and study addiction. The studies aim to provide insights into these topics and their implications for individuals and society. The research is conducted in different countries, including Brazil, Portugal, and Poland, highlighting the importance of cross-cultural exploration. [Extracted from the article]

This document provides summaries of various research studies conducted in different countries on topics related to mental health and well-being. The studies cover a range of topics such as the impact of work stress on romantic relationships, the role of hope in crisis situations, and the relationship between teacher emotional intelligence behaviors and academic engagement. The studies also explore cultural influences on mental health and well-being, such as the acculturation strategies of Korean immigrants in New York and the influence of culture on the concept of hope in Indian young adults. Overall, these studies offer valuable insights into mental health and well-being in diverse cultural contexts. [Extracted from the article]

This symposium, published in the International Journal of Psychology, presents self-report studies from four countries that explore various aspects of family relationships in adulthood. Topics covered include intergenerational relationships in long-distance families, the significance of gratitude and indebtedness in supporting parents, the role of felt obligation and perceived reciprocity in support between mothers and adult children, the meaning of a sense of indebtedness towards parents in migrant and non-migrant families, and the impact of perceived parental differential treatment on sibling relationships. The findings have implications for family intervention and well-being. Additionally, this study examines the associations between childhood threats (parental abuse and bullying victimization) and cognitive difficulties in later life, with family functioning playing a mediating role. The findings suggest that frequent experiences of childhood threats are associated with higher levels of cognitive difficulties in later life, and family functioning mediates these relationships, particularly among older women. These findings emphasize the importance of gender-specific interventions to mitigate the negative effects of childhood threats on family outcomes and promote cognitive health in later life. [Extracted from the article]

This document provides a summary of various studies and research presented in the International Journal of Psychology. The studies cover a wide range of topics, including competitive attitudes in different cultural contexts, parenting practices, learning from robots, cognitive development in infants, prosocial behavior in children, educational aspirations, sleep interventions for children, interparental conflict, paternal involvement, attachment hierarchies in adolescents, child-to-parent violence, self-recognition in children, parent-child relationships in children with ADHD, prosodic features in picture-book reading, mothers' perception of infants' mental states, cognitive abilities and suggestibility in children, third parties' involvement in child-rearing, and parental rejection in Filipino emerging adults. The findings from these studies provide valuable insights into various aspects of human development and can inform interventions and strategies to promote well-being and positive outcomes in diverse cultural contexts. [Extracted from the article]

This document provides a summary of various articles and studies related to community psychology and social issues. It includes a report from the American Psychological Association's Task Force on immigration and health issues in the US, which emphasizes the importance of understanding the immigrant experience and the role of psychologists in advocating for immigrants. The document also covers presentations on topics such as community mental health interventions, social policy legislation, and promoting well-being in diverse communities. Additionally, it includes studies on the determinants of social intelligence in India, approaches to restoring community resilience, and the use of digital stories in substance misuse training programs. These studies offer valuable insights and recommendations for addressing social issues and promoting well-being in diverse communities. [Extracted from the article]

Drawing on conversation analysis, this paper explores how medical encounters are closed in China's mainland. Based on a collection of 75 naturally occurring cases, we observe two dominant conversational practices oriented to closing Chinese medical encounters: a stand-alone 'okay?' as a generic preclosing initiation, and a gratitude-expressing action as the initiation of the closing sequence. Through a further examination of salient closing patterns in our data, we propose that Chinese doctors prefer fishing for patients' initiation of the terminal exchange to closing the medical interaction by themselves. The ways of and reasons for eliciting a patient-initiated closure are also discussed. This study may provide a frame of reference for studying medical closures in other cultures and have implications for cross-cultural comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the relationship between law and class formation through the case of migrant care and domestic work, and puts sociological class theory into conversation with critical migration research. It contributes to class theory by analysing how law helps produce class relations in the Finnish context. The Finnish state channels migrants into cleaning and domestic work through policy measures, and migration law ties them to the reproductive sector, making law a central social relation that defines migrants' relation to production. The analysis draws on interviews with migrant care and domestic workers (N = 30) holding temporary work permits and examines their structural and affective descriptions of a position restricted by law. The article argues that the way migrant domestic work is formalised in the legislation produces a class relation for migrants, in which they lack full ownership over their labour power. The findings demonstrate how migrant domestic workers express gratitude for their employment despite experiencing it as devalued, indicating labour as repayment of the 'gift' of the residence permit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding and preventing unethical behavior is essential for social welfare. Prior research has shown that emotional processes have consequential effects on such behavior. The current work aims to unravel the mixed findings relating positive emotion to unethical behavior by suggesting that feeling gratitude may differentially influence one's ethicality through three distinct pathways: cognitive (moral disengagement), motivational (greed), and relational (felt-security). Through our propositions, we advance a conceptual model for investigating the relationships among general positive emotion, gratitude, and unethical behavior, to gain clarity on these important connections. More broadly, researchers could use our model to illuminate a range of pathways linking gratitude and unethical behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moral status of soldiers as agent-instruments of polities has been long debated among Christians. Recognizing soldiers' moral vulnerability, Stanley Hauerwas has argued for a pastoral rather than a missiological shape of what Oliver O'Donovan has called evangelical counter-praxis through a Christian's participation in war. To reframe the complications of this dilemma, this essay argues that the Christian soldier has the potential to actively witness the love of Jesus Christ through a kenotic repudiation of one's unwillingness to kill. Through an interpretation of Shusaku Endo's novel Silence, a correspondence between the Christian soldier and the apostate-cum-martyr Fr. Rodrigues is arguable through an act of paradoxical faith in Jesus, where killing the enemy becomes an imitation of his self-emptying on the cross for the sake of others. Christian soldiers may find self-understanding, healing, and forgiveness by naming their acts truthfully with the intention to move through confession to gratitude and a deeper love for God and neighbor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study considered the role of broad life orientations of university students on their academic engagement and burnout within the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to examine whether life purpose orientations predicted student academic engagement and burnout directly and indirectly through disposition towards gratitude. University students completed questionnaires assessing academic engagement, burnout (reduced sense of schoolwork accomplishment, schoolwork devaluation, mental exhaustion from schoolwork), life purpose orientations (others-growth, self-growth, career-focused), and disposition towards gratitude. Structural equation modeling showed that academic engagement and two dimensions of burnout (reduced sense of schoolwork accomplishment, schoolwork devaluation) were negatively predicted by career-focused purpose orientation and by disposition towards gratitude. Additionally, reduced sense of schoolwork accomplishment was predicted indirectly by others-growth purpose orientation through disposition towards gratitude. Overall, findings highlight that broad life orientations may play salient roles in student academic success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the recent resurgence of interest in character and virtues within philosophy, psychology, and educational studies. This renewed interest has been inspired by a retrieval of character-and-virtue research in psychology and the advent of positive psychology. The article explores the concept of phronesis, or practical wisdom, and its role in moral decision-making. It also examines the relationship between virtues, wisdom, skills, and expertise. The aim of the article is to bring together scholars from various disciplines to address the methodological and substantive challenges in the study of virtue cultivation, practical wisdom, and expertise. [Extracted from the article]

According to Aristotle, wisdom orchestrates all other virtues and therefore leads to eudaimonia, which can be translated as flourishing or psychological well-being. Wisdom guides people to take the morally right course of action in concrete situations to benefit themselves and others. If Aristotle's theory is correct, then wisdom should be related to different moral virtues and wisdom, rather than individual virtues, should predict eudaimonic well-being, establishing wisdom as the driving force behind human flourishing. Survey data were collected from 230 undergraduate students (M = 21 years, median age = 20 years) attending five different classes in the social sciences at a university in the Southeast of the United States at the beginning and end of the fall semester in 2016. Bivariate correlations, regression analyses, and a structural equation model were utilized to analyze the data. Three-dimensional wisdom (3D-WS) at the beginning of the semester (T1), consisting of the average of cognitive, reflective, and compassionate personality qualities, was significantly positively related to gratitude, forgiveness, morality/fairness, modesty, greed avoidance, and sincerity at T1. Wisdom at T1 predicted flourishing at the end of the semester (T2), assessed by self-acceptance, mastery, purpose in life, and orientation toward personal growth. Among the virtues, only gratitude at T1 significantly predicted flourishing at T2. It appears that Aristotle was correct! Wisdom, at least as measured by the 3D-WS, seems to orchestrate moral virtues and result in human flourishing. This implies that cultivating the development of wisdom will lead to a better and more flourishing life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gratitude is a pervasive, if often overlooked, aspect of our daily lives. At its core, it is a response to being benefitted. Yet, several philosophical puzzles surround this ostensibly ordinary emotion. This article is an overview of the major philosophical debates concerning gratitude. We start with personal gratitude, i.e., gratitude directed to an agent for something they have done. We consider what personal gratitude consists in. We then consider its normativity, i.e., when it is fitting, owed, a directed duty, or a virtue. We then turn to impersonal gratitude, i.e., gratitude for something without gratitude to any agent for it. We consider the normativity of this attitude, i.e., when it is fitting. We end by considering whether personal gratitude and impersonal gratitude are two species of the same genus—as their names suggest—or whether they are distinct attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nazanin Zaghari‐Ratcliffe, an Iranian‐British dual citizen, was detained by the Iranian state from April 2016 to March 2022 and charged with spying and propaganda activities against the Iranian state without due process. After her release and return to the UK, Zaghari‐Ratcliffe criticized the UK government in a press conference, which triggered a Twitter campaign using the hashtags “sendherback” and “ungrateful.” This campaign claimed that she did not show “enough gratitude” to Britain, the country that “saved” her. In this paper, we investigate the content of the Twitter campaign. Using the concept of anti‐citizenship, we focus on xeno‐racist discourses around Zaghari‐Ratcliffe's dual nationality and how her belonging in Britain is challenged. We explore the role Zaghari‐Ratcliffe's Iranian background plays in how her Britishness is rendered suspect, which then enables the racialized tropes in the #sendherback campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, gratitude has often been promoted through political discourse, particularly to the Chinese Communist Party and its leaders. Traditionally, this discourse has focused on Chinese citizens’ gratitude. But this has changed recently. This article applies summative content analysis to examine discourses of gratitude promoted by the Party during the COVID-19 pandemic. As it shows, the Party has emphasized three discourses to promote gratitude in relation to its COVID-19 policies and otherwise serve its interests: (1) gratitude of international entities to China, (2) gratitude of China to the international community, and (3) gratitude of Chinese people to the party. This reflects a shift of emphasis from valuing domestic gratitude to recognizing international gratitude of people and groups toward China. After reporting on these findings, the article discusses the rationales for this shift and its implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness has recently been defined as a public health problem, and college students from various cultures are considered a vulnerable group. As college students must cope with new personal, social, and academic challenges, their perceptions regarding their entitlement from their environment, and their gratefulness for the assistance they receive, may make a unique contribution to their experience of loneliness. In the current study we examined the associations between loneliness, gratitude, and two types of entitlement (active and academic) among college students in two countries: Israel and Poland. A total of 313 Israeli students and 275 Polish students completed a series of questionnaires. The results indicated that Israeli students experienced lower levels of loneliness and academic entitlement, and higher levels of active entitlement and gratitude, in comparison to Polish students. The two types of entitlement and gratitude mediated the association between students' country and loneliness. Active entitlement predicted more gratitude, which predicted lower levels of loneliness. However, academic entitlement predicted lower levels of gratitude, which predicted more loneliness. Our focus on entitlement, gratitude, and loneliness offers insights into the understanding of the psychological and social dynamics among college students in two countries, with implications for theoretical understanding and intervention planning in higher education. Highlights: The loneliness of college students reflects their cultural and environmental differences, during their college years.Entitlement complexity: Active entitlement (a general and proactive belief in one's rights) predicts gratefulness and reduced loneliness, whereas academic entitlement (the belief in one's right for academic support) predicts lower levels of gratitude and higher levels of loneliness.Israeli students reported higher levels of active entitlement and gratitude and lower levels of loneliness and academic entitlement, in comparison to Polish students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses a faith-based, short-term program for trauma healing among incarcerated individuals, "Correctional Trauma Healing Program" (CTHP). We hypothesized that participation in the CTHP would reduce negative consequences of lifetime trauma: symptoms of PTSD, state depression, state anger, suicidal ideation, and the risk of interpersonal aggression. We also hypothesized that the reduction, if found, would be partly attributable to anticipated program outcomes (a decrease in vengefulness and an increase in religiosity, forgiveness, perceived forgiveness of God, gratitude to God, and perceived positive impact of the Bible). To test our hypotheses, we conducted a quasi-experimental study of 349 jail inmates in Virginia. Manifest-variable structural equation modeling was applied to analyze data from pretest and posttest surveys. As hypothesized, the CTHP reduced the negative consequences of trauma by increasing religiosity and other positive attributes and decreasing vengefulness directly and/or indirectly via increased religiosity. Implications and limitations of our study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of three different gratitude interventions on college student well-being. Participants: Participants were 132 college students at a university in the northwest sampled between September 2019 and February 2020. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to one of three gratitude interventions (journaling, reflection, app prompted reflection) or an activity-matched control group for 8 weeks and completed baseline and post-intervention assessments of well-being (e.g., satisfaction with life, happiness, resilience, depression, anxiety, and stress). Results: Participants in all three gratitude intervention groups showed improvements in well-being over time, whereas the control group did not report any such improvements. Gratitude journaling appeared to have the most significant positive impact on well-being and affective functioning. Conclusions: Gratitude interventions are simple, easy to implement, low-cost tools that can increase overall well-being and decrease negative affect, stress, and anxiety in college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial from the International Journal of Practical Theology, reflecting on the author's twelve-year tenure as managing editor. The author discusses the submissions received during their time, noting that approximately 25% were published after a rigorous peer review process. The author highlights the diverse range of topics and methodologies in practical theology, including pastoral theology and public theology. They also acknowledge the challenges of internationalization, such as language barriers and different academic cultures. The editorial concludes by introducing the articles featured in the current issue, covering topics such as religious education, liturgics, and piety research. The text discusses the challenges and benefits of internationalizing Practical Theology. It highlights the diversity and breadth of the field, which ranges from public theological and religious matters to pastoral theological approaches. The author emphasizes the need for readers to engage with unfamiliar details, understand different perspectives, and be tolerant of solutions that may not apply in their own context. The text also acknowledges the difficulties faced by editors in evaluating submissions from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The article concludes by expressing curiosity about the future of the journal and the dynamics of internationalizing Practical Theology. It also provides a brief overview of the articles included in the current issue, which cover topics such as church education policy, liturgy and autism, baptism practices, experiences of grace, and the longing for social connection in a church community. [Extracted from the article]

There seem to be many kinds of moral duties. We should keep our promises; we should pay our debts of gratitude; we should compensate those we've wronged; we should avoid doing or intending harm; we should help those in need. These constitute, some worry, an unconnected heap of duties: the realm of commonsense morality is a disorganized mess. In this paper, we outline a strategy for unifying commonsense moral duties. We argue that they can be understood in terms of contact with value. You are in contact with a value when you are manifest in it or when it is manifest in you. You have reason to get in contact with the good and avoid contact with evil. And when you're in contact with a value, the weight of the reasons it grounds are amplified for you. These ideas, we argue, can bring order to the chaos of commonsense morality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on expressing gratitude for the attention given to exploratory thoughts on a Christian theology of science by distinguished scholars in a Modern Theology forum. Topics include contrasting readings by metaphysical theologians versus science-engaged theologians and historians, and the emerging visibility of Christian metaphysical theology challenging established science and religion discourse.

In the study, 512 high school students from China were followed three times over a two-year period using a follow-up study design. Based on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, a cross-lagged model was developed to investigate the bidirectional relationship between gratitude and depression/anxiety. The results showed that gratitude was significantly negatively correlated with depression and anxiety. However, gratitude did not significantly negatively predict depression and anxiety in the cross-lag analysis, while depression and anxiety did significantly negatively predict gratitude. Based on the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, this study breaks the direct promoting effect of gratitude on promoting mental health in traditional cognition, and reveals the one-way predicting relationship between depression and anxiety, two typical adverse psychological emotions, on gratitude, which has important theoretical and practical significance for understanding the development of social emotions in adolescents from the perspective of mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]