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Effects of the Gratitude Letter and Positive Attention Bias Modification on Attentional Deployment and Emotional States

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  • Bryant M. Stone

    (Southern Illinois University)

  • John D. Lindt

    (Southern Illinois University)

  • Norka E. Rabinovich

    (Southern Illinois University)

  • David G. Gilbert

    (Southern Illinois University)

Abstract

Much research testing positive psychological interventions (PPIs) has focused primarily on emotional states, while research testing the effects of positive attention bias modification (PABM) has tended to focus primarily on attentional deployment. Evidence is sparse and inconsistent on attentional deployment (i.e., a process of emotion regulation) in PPIs, changes in emotional states (i.e., an outcome of emotion regulation) in PABM programs, and the combined effects of the two types of interventions on attentional deployment and emotional states. In the current study, we found that the gratitude letter increased positive affect immediately after completion and the PABM biased attention immediately after completion; however, the effects of the gratitude letter on affect were only maintained throughout the study when paired together with the PABM program. Further, we found evidence that the gratitude letter and the gratitude letter with the PABM program increases initial viewing away and late viewing towards emotional stimuli. Thus, the gratitude letter may produce positive effects on affect by increasing the salience of emotional stimuli, potentially helping individuals notice positive sitmuli in their enviroment to maintain their mood and negative stimuli in their enviornment to reduce emotional avoidance. The results suggest that combining the gratitude letter with a PABM program can produce strong effects on both attentional deployment and emotional states. We discuss the implications for clinical practice and future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Bryant M. Stone & John D. Lindt & Norka E. Rabinovich & David G. Gilbert, 2022. "Effects of the Gratitude Letter and Positive Attention Bias Modification on Attentional Deployment and Emotional States," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 3-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:23:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s10902-021-00377-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-021-00377-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Estefanía Domínguez-Martínez & Eugenio Parise & Tommy Strandvall & Vincent M Reid, 2015. "The Fixation Distance to the Stimulus Influences ERP Quality: An EEG and Eye Tracking N400 Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-14, July.
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    3. Cindy Harmon-Jones & Brock Bastian & Eddie Harmon-Jones, 2016. "The Discrete Emotions Questionnaire: A New Tool for Measuring State Self-Reported Emotions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(8), pages 1-25, August.
    4. Steven Toepfer & Kelly Cichy & Patti Peters, 2012. "Letters of Gratitude: Further Evidence for Author Benefits," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 187-201, March.
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