Talk Probes Spirituality of Gratitude

Robert A. Emmons, the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude, examines the science and spirituality of gratitude in a lecture Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. in Hieronymus Lounge at Westmont’s Kerrwood Hall. The Provost’s Lecture, “Gratitude: The Heart of the Gospel and the Heart of Well-Being,” is free and open to the public. Please email Mariah Velasquez to reserve a seat at mvelasquez@westmont.edu.

Emmons, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, asks what is gratitude and how does it relate to human flourishing.

“Gratitude encircles much of what we do and who we are,” he says. “Its power derives from a need that is deeply entrenched in the human condition —  the need to give thanks. Gratitude is a response to received goodness that involves recognizing the benevolence of moral agents. Evidence that gratitude to God is a nearly inevitable outcome of how the mind works will be explored.”

He is the founding editor-in-chief of The Journal of Positive Psychology, and author of the book “Gratitude Works! A 21-Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity”

The Martin Institute and Dallas Willard Center has selected Emmons to receive its first award for his book “Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier.”

Emmons, a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, earned a Master of Arts degree and doctorate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

This past year, the Student Life Department selected the theme of gratitude to explore in chapel and in residence halls. In addition, two faculty and staff book clubs read and discussed Emmons’ book “Thanks!”