On Acknowledging Thanks for Performing a Favor

Abstract

Two studies examined whether the acknowledgments given to an expressed thanks for performing a favor was merely phatic in nature, that is, does not convey information but just serves a social role in establishing and maintaining relationships. We were especially interested in a non-literal form of acknowledgment, responses such as “anytime,” which, if taken literally, invites unwanted intrusions into one's life. In the reported studies the cost of the favor was manipulated (in terms of effort, resources or time needed to perform the favor) and whether the gender of the person performing the favor was the same or opposite as that for whom the favor was done. Across the two studies, the non-literal acknowledgment was less likely to be employed for high-cost favors, was more likely to be recalled compared to other acknowledgments generated at the same base rate and was used differently by female and male participants. These data demonstrate that people moderate their thanks as a function of the cost of the favor and to whom they are speaking, results indicating that gratitude acknowledgments cannot be considered mere phatic communication. In a more general way, these data indicate the importance of considering social knowledge in nonliteral language usage.

Notes

*p < .05.