Appreciated and Motivated: Examining Whether,When,and Why Receiving Gratitude Enhances Instrumentality Intentions in Romantic Relationships

Abstract

People benefit immensely when they have close relationship partners who are instrumental (i.e., helpful) to their goal pursuit. However, little is known about what motivates partners’ continued instrumentality. Research on gratitude led us to examine whether, when, and why receiving expressions of gratitude for one’s instrumentality would increase people’s intentions to be instrumental to their romantic partner’s goal(s) in the future (future instrumentality intentions [FIIs]). In a correlational study (Study 1) and two experiments in which we manipulated expressed gratitude (Studies 2 and 3), gratitude receipt positively predicted FIIs. This finding persisted regardless of whether partners achieved their goal (Study 3). We identify potential mechanisms and show that gratitude receipt is particularly important for boosting FIIs among people in lower (vs. higher) quality relationships. These findings serve as a foundation for research examining antecedents to instrumentality and considering long-term consequences of gratitude receipt for support processes in romantic relationships.

Keywords

gratitude romantic relationships instrumentality goal pursuit relationship quality

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