The Role of Mindset: Who Benefits More from Gratitude Interventions

The present project forms part of a broader study aimed at examining the factors that determine whether certain mindsets (exchange and communal) benefit more from gratitude, and specifically whether differences in mindset underlie the cultural variations observed in the benefits of gratitude. This mixed-methods project complements another component of the study and seeks to generate both qualitative and quantitative experimental data to provide a more comprehensive understanding of whether this difference is also extended into gratitude interventions. Gratitude is a stable predictor of various positive outcomes; grateful individuals tend to report higher levels of well-being and better overall mental health (e.g. SWB; Deichert et al., 2021). However, despite these consistent correlational findings, the application of gratitude within psychological interventions has produced mixed results, with positive outcomes not always replicating across different populations (Davis et al., 2016). This suggests an incomplete understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which gratitude operates. Recent research (Su et al., manuscript under review) has proposed that gratitude may promote well-being through different pathways, including self-enhancement, indicating that its effects may not be universally experienced or uniformly beneficial. Additionally, evidence suggests that interventions are most effective when they align with individual differences, a concept known as the person X activity fit (Proyer et al., 2015). In the case of gratitude, this means that individuals might benefit most when the intervention reflects their own lived experience or mindset around gratitude (Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009). As such, variability in intervention outcomes may stem from mismatches between the design of gratitude interventions and the psychological orientations of participants, highlighting the importance of tailoring approaches to better fit individual needs and cognitive styles. A market mindset, also known as an exchange mindset, is a trait characterized by the habitual tendency to approach social interactions through the lens of cost-benefit analysis, emphasizing fairness, reciprocity, and the expectation of return. Individuals with this mindset are more likely to track the balance of give-and-take in relationships, viewing help or generosity as part of an implicit transaction (Fiske, 1994; Chen & Unal, 2023). Such mindset is also reflected in gratitude, where it functions as a ‘social insurance,’ and grateful individuals are sensitive to the cost and benefit during interpersonal interactions (McCullough et al., 2008; Trivers, 1971). On the other hand, a communal mindset reflects a trait where people provide support based on need rather than expectation of repayment. This orientation prioritizes care, emotional closeness, and shared responsibility, often downplaying or disregarding strict calculations of exchange (Clark & Mills, 2012). Although communal orientations are often framed as the opposite of exchange or market mindsets, this paper does not adopt the assumption that only exchange mindsets foster gratitude. Prior research demonstrates that a sense of communal relationship orientation can, in fact, heighten feelings of gratitude (Simão & Seibt, 2014). However, when communality becomes a chronic or dispositional mindset, help from others may be perceived as normative rather than unexpected (Wood et al., 2008). As a result, expressions of gratitude may diminish over time, as individuals become habituated to both providing and receiving support (Shin et al., 2020; Yu & Chaudhry, 2024). Thus, this paper examines whether individuals with a high trait exchange mindset, characterized by a belief in give and return and similarly aligned with the mindset underlying gratitude, respond more effectively to gratitude intervention. The scientific significance of this research lies in its potential to further clarify the underlying mindset associated with gratitude, shedding light on the psychological processes that drive its effectiveness. Additionally, it aims to identify the types of individuals who are most likely to benefit from gratitude-based interventions, thus enhancing the precision of targeted support. These insights can contribute to future intervention studies by informing the development of more tailored and effective designs, ultimately improving the overall impact of gratitude-based interventions.