The Expression of Gratitude and Envy

The Relationship between Referential Activity and Self-Reported Measures

Abstract

The present study aims at testing whether: higher connection between subsymbolic and symbolic systems in expressing gratitude or envy may account for greater proneness to experience such feelings (1); differential effects exist when considering the (dis)connection among systems in expressing the opposite feelings (2). A convenience sample of 56 Italian participants was recruited (50% female; M_age = 44.16 years, SD = 16.07). A structured interview was used to compute some referential activity (RA) measures regarding the expression of gratitude and envy; as well, dispositional gratitude (GQ-6) and envy (DES) scales were administered. Multiple regression analyses were used to test the role of RA measures in explaining dispositional gratitude and envy, controlling for gender and age, whereas subgroup analyses for participants with low/high RA levels in envy and gratitude examined potential differential effect estimates. The results showed that envy-related RA may allow disclosing envious feelings, especially when there is a greater difficulty to get in touch with gratitude. Instead, gratitude-related RA does not necessarily result in greater grateful disposition, also because affect integration about envy can confound the relationship between emotional awareness and self-reported levels of gratitude. Limitations, suggestions for future research, and clinical implications are briefly discussed.