Gratitude in Education

Howells, Kerry

doi:10.1007/978-94-6091-814-8

Cited by 32 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Howells (2012) defines gratitude as 'the active and conscious practice of giving thanks. It finds its true expression in the way one lives one's daily life rather than as a thought or an emotion' (italics added, p. 12).…”

Section: Gratitudementioning

confidence: 99%

“…One concern of Howells (2012Howells ( , 2013 is that a focus on emotion-gratitude may lead school leaders to think that they need to feel grateful all of the time and that this is an unrealistic pressure on school leaders. However, we argue that she has swung the pendulum too far with her dominant emphasis on action, as this might also lead to a similar pressure on school leaders who feel they have to act gratefully all of the time, and that this is an unrealistic pressure on school leaders.…”

Section: Gratitudementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The individual benefits of emotion-gratitude are equally as important as the relational benefits that come from action-gratitude, given the high stress rates of school leaders outlined in the introduction of this article. In addition, it is not always possible in schools to practise the actions of gratitude, and Howells (2012) herself contends that 'many of our educational environments . .…”

Section: Gratitudementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Howells (2012) and Emmons (2007) suggest that resentment and cynicism may be triggered in gratitude-inducing situations. The sample of adults in Morgan et al's (2014) research who were asked to compile a list of features of gratitude cited guilt, embarrassment…”

Section: The Downside To Gratitudementioning

confidence: 99%

“…To date, the only research conducted into gratitude in school leaders has been two pilot studies by Howells (2009Howells ( , 2012, who used an intervention that focused on the action of gratitude. The current study can be used to legitimise the emotion of gratitude as an important endpoint in and of itself, rather than as a mere 'starting point to true gratitude' , as conceptualised by Howells.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Positive Education for School Leaders: Exploring the Effects of Emotion-Gratitude and Action-Gratitude

Waters

Stokes

2015

The Educational and Developmental Psychologist

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This qualitative study describes the effect of two gratitude interventions designed to trigger emotion-gratitude (gratitude diary) and action-gratitude (gratitude letter) in school leaders. Case study methodology was applied to analyse reflective journals of 27 school leaders. The gratitude diary served to foster a more balanced view of the positive and negative events that occur at school, to engage in more appreciative problem solving (with respect to their role as mediators), to see the value in relationships, and to experience positive emotions such as hope, happiness and optimism. However, the gratitude diary also triggered a frustration in school leaders who were dealing with the paradox of having to look for things to feel grateful for at school when their role required an emphasis on fixing problems. The gratitude letter prompted emotional catharsis, a desire to invest in professional relationships, greater use of gratitude in leadership roles, and sparked reciprocated gratitude from staff and students (as reported by the school leaders). On the downside, the gratitude letter created feelings of vulnerability and concern for the potential ill-ease that the letter might cause for the recipient. Gratitude was not only used during the 'good times' of leadership but was also drawn upon to deal effectively with the difficult aspects, such as conflict. The results suggest that both types of gratitude interventions have value for school leaders and that leaders need to mutually attend to the emotional element of gratitude and the action element of gratitude.

show abstract

Section: Gratitudementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Gratitudementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Gratitudementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Downside To Gratitudementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations