The paradox of power: The relationship between self-esteem and gratitude

ABSTRACT

In contrast to earlier research, the three studies reported here find that the most powerful individuals are also the most grateful, and that self-esteem plays a role in explaining this relationship. Study 1a (N = 109) reveals a strong, positive relationship between individuals’ perceived power and gratitude. Study 1b (N = 194) replicates this and finds that self-esteem mediates this positive power-gratitude relationship. Study 2 (N = 212) manipulates power and shows its downstream effects on gratitude through self-esteem, again providing support for the positive relationship of power to gratitude through self-esteem. We argue that because gratitude is predicated on recognition that others value oneself, power amplifies rather than undercuts feelings of gratitude. We discuss possible boundary conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Gratitude
• power
• self-esteem

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data-availability

The data described in this article are openly available in the Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/kv3t2/

Open Scholarship

This article has earned the Center for Open science badges for Open Materials through Open Practices Disclosure. The materials are openly accessible at https://osf.io/kv3t2/

Notes

1. For all studies, we imbedded questions that asked participants to select a particular option in order to determine if they were truly attending to the study. If participants did not select the correct answer, their data was deleted from the study.

2. Examination of an additional alternative model, wherein gratitude predicted self-esteem (versus self-esteem predicting gratitude) demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data (AIC: 833.69; BIC: 853.29). Preacher and Kelley (2011) recommend comparing standardized indirect effect estimates for indirect effect models that fit the data comparably well. Examination of standardized effects revealed that the standardized indirect effect in our original model (indirect effect of gratitude; standardized ab = .16) was larger than that revealed in the alternative model (indirect effect of self-esteem: standardized ab = .12).

3. In addition to SP, we employed the single item, “How powerful are you currently feeling?” as a more accurate representation of state changes in power. There were no condition differences in power as assessed by the Sense of Power scale. However, in line with studies 1a and 1b, Sense of Power did relate to self-esteem (b = .37, p = .000) and gratitude (b = .33, p = .001) in the expected direction.

4. As in Study 1b, we tested an alternative model, wherein gratitude predicted self-esteem (versus self-esteem predicting gratitude); this demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data (AIC: 1759.094; BIC: 1796.017). Examination of standardized effects revealed that the standardized indirect effect in our model (indirect effect of gratitude; standardized ab = .08) was larger than that revealed in the alternative model (indirect effect of self-esteem: standardized ab = .05).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Monica Y. Bartlett

Monica Y. Bartlett is Associate Professor and Chair of the Psychology Department at Gonzaga University. She graduated from Northeastern University in 2006 with her doctoral degree in psychology. She studies emotions and their impact on social decision-making and behavior.

Piercarlo Valdesolo

Piercarlo Valdesolo is Associate Professor and Chair of the Psychology Department at Claremont McKenna College. He graduated from Northeastern University in 2008 with his doctoral degree in psychology. He studies emotional states and their impact on social decisions.

Sarah N. Arpin

Sarah N. Arpin is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Gonzaga University. She graduated from Portland State University in 2015 with a doctoral degree in applied psychology. She studies the impact of social relationships and loneliness on health, as well as the interdependence of emotions and health behavior within romantic couples.