Returning thanks to God and others: prosocial consequences of transcendent indebtedness

Abstract

Gratitude and indebtedness facilitate cooperative relationships and prosocial behavior. Yet, studies are needed to assess whether indebtedness and gratitude have differential prosocial effects. Study 1 (N = 659; highly religious emerging adult sample) employed a 3 × 2 experimental design with six conditions; 1) gratitude-only to humans, 2) indebtedness-only to humans, 3) gratitude and indebtedness to humans, 4) gratitude-only to God, 5) indebtedness-only to God, and 6) gratitude and indebtedness to God. Study 2 (N = 1,081; nationally representative sample) was a replication of Study 1. People prompted to experience both gratitude and indebtedness had higher prosocial relational engagement (i.e. consistent effects for relationship proximity and direct reciprocity) than those who primarily experienced gratitude or indebtedness. Transcendent indebtedness (want to repay) was related to better prosocial outcomes than transactional indebtedness (have to repay). Secure attachment to God moderated the association between receiving a favor from God (versus human) and increased prosocial behavior.