大学生“知恩图报”的心理反应特点

The Psychological Characteristic of Gratitude-Evidence from University Students

以52名大学生为被试,在模拟真实生活的游戏情境中,设定施恩与受恩的情形,考察个体是否会"知恩图报"。结果发现:受恩的被试具有一定的感恩意识,但比较薄弱;感恩情绪总体上是一种积极的心理体验过程,并且随着报恩行为的发生,个体的这种正性情绪会相对增强;受恩被试具有明显的感恩回报行为,但回报值低于所接受的恩惠值。说明"知恩图报"是以保护自身利益为前提的有限回馈,其实质很可能是基于亏欠而产生的一种偿还义务。

Gratitude is a muhiple social cognition, which results from the positive cognition and emotion one feels when another person intentionally gives, or attempts to give something of value. The current study used a behavioral test to explore individuals＂ reaction in consciousness, emotion and behavior, aiming to investigate the psychological mechanism of gratitude. As paid volunteers, 52 undergraduates （28 males, 24 females, mean age = 22） from Chongqing University participated in the ex- periment. The subjects were randomly assigned in either gratitude condition or non - gratitude condition, and were instructed to partici- pate in a lucky draw game online. Every three subjects were assigned to a group. They chose one circle of the four which appear on the computer screen in turn, then obtained the number which the circle represented. The number was either positive or negative. Their re- ward depended on the total number they got in the whole game. If oneg score came to zero, he would be required to quit this game and got nothing in return. In fact, ＇all the numbers that the subjects got in the trials were arranged in advance. Besides the real subject, the other two in the same group were phony. During the game, the subjects experienced the same situation that their total scores became zero. However, one half of them received 10 scores from the phony ＂Zhang Changjun＂ who helped them to continue the game （grateful condition） ; the other half continue with this game by receiving 10 scores from the computer system （ ungrateful condition）. The game continued until the helper Zhang Changjung score got to zero. Then, the system asked the subjects whether they would like to donate scores in order to help him finish this game, and the scores that the subjects gave to the benefactor were recorded. The gratitude consciousness was meas- ured ＇after the subjects got 10 scores in different ways. Moreover, the emotion was tested when the subjects received the favor from the benefactor as well as they returned the scores to benefactor. The results showed that in the gratitude condition, individuals＂ gratitude consciousness was somewhat weak, and gratitude con- sciousness may be affected by the favor value; as a whole the gratitude emotion was a positive experience, and this feeling would be strengthened as the return action occurs; the scores subjects returned was less than the scores that the benefactor donated, which means that the gratitude behavior may he an obligation. Individuals returned the favor received from the benefactor in order to weaken the guilt.