Gratitude, Joy, and Happiness Lab

*indicates student coauthors 

Kalon, L. S., Freund, H., Rinn, A., Watkins, P. C., Zarske, A-C., & Lehr, D. (in press). Effectiveness of a gratitude app at reducing repetitive negative thinking as a transdiagnostic risk factor in the general population: Results from a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Journal of Affective Disorders.  

Watkins, P. C., Emmons, R. A., Davis, D. E., & Frederick*, M. (2024). Thanks be to God: Divine gratitude and its relationship to well-being. Religions, 15: 1246.  

Watkins, P. C., Frederick*, M., Davis, D. E., & Van Tongeren, D. R. (2024). Meaning making enhances gratitude to God: The importance of spiritual appraisals. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality 16(3), 303-313. 

Watkins, P. C., Frederick*, M., Davis, D. E., & Emmons, R. A. (2024). Exploring the Cognitive Context of Gratitude to God: Emotional Impact and Appraisals of Benefits from God. Journal of Positive Psychology, 19(1), 166-182.

Nelson, J. M., Hardy, S. A., & Watkins, P. (2023). Transcendent indebtedness to God: A new construct in the psychology of religion and spirituality. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 15(1), 105–117.

Watkins, P. C., Frederick*, M., & Davis, D. (2022). Gratitude to God predicts religious well-being over time. Religions, 13(675). 

Watkins, P. C., Munger*, P., Hutton*, B., Elliott*, K. & Mathews, A. (2021): Modifying interpretation bias leads to congruent changes in gratitude. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 17(5), 628-638.

Bohlmeijer, E. T., Kraiss, J. T., Watkins, P. & Schotanus-Dijkstra, M. (2021). Promoting gratitude as a resource for sustainable mental health: Results of a 3-armed randomized controlled trial up to 6 months follow-up. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22, 1011-1032.

Watkins, P. C. (2020). Gratitude and the good life: How gratitude contributes to a meaningful life. International Journal of Positive Existential Psychology, 9(1).

Watkins, P. C. (2020). Appraising joy. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(1), 25–29. 

Watkins, P. C., Emmons, R. A., Greaves*, M. R., & Bell*, J. (2018). Joy is a distinct positive emotion: Assessment of joy and relationship to gratitude and well-being. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 13(5), 522–539. 

Solom*, S., Watkins, P. C., McCurrach*, D., & Scheibe*, D.  (2017). Thieves of thankfulness: Traits that inhibit gratitude. Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(2), 120-129. 

Watkins, P. C., Uhder*, J., & Pichinevskiy*, S. (2015). Grateful recounting enhances subjective well-being: The importance of grateful processing. Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(2), 91-98. 

Frias*, A., Watkins, P. C., Webber*, A., & Froh, J. (2011).  Death and gratitude: Death reflection enhances gratitude. Journal of Positive Psychology, 6(2), 154-162. 

Froh, J. J., Fan, J., Emmons, R. A., Bono, G., Huebner, E. S., & Watkins, P. (2011).  Measuring Gratitude in Youth: Assessing the Psychometric Properties of Adult Gratitude Scales in Children and Adolescents. Psychological Assessment, 23(2), 311-324. 

Watkins, P. C., Cruz*, L., Holben*, H., & Kolts, R. L. (2008). Taking Care of Business?  Grateful Processing of Unpleasant Memories. Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(2), 87-99. 

Watkins, P. C., Scheer*, J., Ovnicek*, M., & Kolts, R. (2006). The debt of gratitude: Dissociating gratitude from indebtedness. Cognition and Emotion, 20(2), 217-241. 

Watkins, P. C., Grimm*, D. L., & Kolts, R. (2004). Counting your blessings: Positive memories among grateful persons. Current Psychology, 23(1), 52-67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-004-1008-z 

Watkins, P. C., Woodward*, K., Stone*, T., & Kolts, R. (2003). Gratitude and happiness: Development of a measure of gratitude, and relationships with subjective well-being.  Social Behaviour and Personality, 31(5), 431-452.

Watkins, P. C. (2002). Implicit memory bias in depression.  Cognition and Emotion, 16(3), 381-402.

Watkins, P. C., Martin*, C. K., & Stern, L. D. (2000). Unconscious memory bias in depression: Perceptual and conceptual processes. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109(2), 282-289. 

Watkins, P. C., Vache*, K., Verney*, S. P., Muller*, S., & Mathews, A. (1996). Unconscious mood-congruent memory bias in depression.  Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105(1), 34-41.

Williamson, D. A., Gleaves, D. H., Watkins, P. C., & Schlundt, D. G. (1993). Validation of self-ideal body size discrepancy as a measure of body dissatisfaction. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 15(1), 57-68. 

Watkins, P. C., Mathews, A., Williamson, D. A., & Fuller, R. D. (1992). Mood-congruent memory in depression: Emotional priming or elaboration? Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 101(3), 581-586. 

Propst, L. R., Ostrom, R., Watkins, P., Dean, T., & Mashburn, D.  (1992). Comparative efficacy of religious and nonreligious cognitive-behavioral therapy for the treatment of clinical depression in religious individuals. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(1), 1-103. 

Williamson, S. H., Williamson, D. A., Watkins, P. C., & Hughs, H. H.  (1992). Increasing cooperation among children using dependent group-oriented reinforcement contingencies. Behavior Modification, 16(3), 400-413. 

Watkins, P. C., Williamson, D. A., & Falkowski, C. (1990). Prospective assessment of late-luteal dysphoria. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 11(3), 249-259. 

Watkins, P. C., Gouvier, W. D., Callon, E., & Barkemeyer, C. (1989). Equivalence of items on the Mini-Mental State. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 4(4), 381-384. 

Williamson, D. A., Prather, R. C., Bennet, S. M., Davis, C. J., Watkins, P. C., & Grenier, C.  (1989). An uncontrolled evaluation of inpatient and outpatient cognitive-behavior therapy for bulimia nervosa. Behavior Modification, 13(3), 340-360. 

Propst, L. R., Pardington, A., Ostrom, R., & Watkins, P. (1986). Predictors of coping in divorced single mothers. Journal of Divorce, 9(3), 33-53. 

Watkins, P. C. (2016). Positive Psychology 101. Springer.

Watkins, P. C. (2014). Gratitude and the good life: Toward a psychology of appreciation. Springer Science + Business Media.

*indicates student coauthors 

Watkins, P. C., & Bowen*, D. (accepted pending minor revisions). Gratitude. In, K. C. Bronk, C. Pury, J. Gillham, & S. Schueller, APA Handbook of Positive Psychology, American Psychological Association.   

Watkins, P. C. (in press). Journaling to cultivate gratitude. In R. Harmon, Improving character. Wiley. 

Watkins, P. C., & Dodson*, A. W. (2025). Gratitude. In J. Maddux (Ed.), Subjective well-being: A social psychological perspective. Psychology Press.  

Watkins, P. C., Frederick*, M., & Dodson*, A. (2023). Gratitude and happiness: The causes and consequences of gratitude. In F. Irtelli & F. Gabrielli (Eds), Happiness—Biopsychosocial and Anthropological Perspectives. IntechOpen.   

Watkins, P. C., & McCurrach*, D. (2021). Progress in the science of gratitude. In C. R. Snyder, S. Lopez, L. Edwards, & S. Marques (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, 3rd Edition. Oxford (pp. 571-585). DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199396511.001.0001 

Watkins, P. C., McGlaughlin*, T., & Parker*, J. (2019). Gratitude and subjective well-being: How cultivating gratitude can produce a harvest of happiness. In N. Silton (Ed.), Scientific concepts behind happiness, kindness and empathy in contemporary society (pp. 20-42). IGI Global. 

Watkins, P. C., & Schiebe*, D. (2018). Gratitude. In J. Maddux (Ed.), Subjective well-being and life satisfaction (pp. 210-229). Psychology Press.  

Watkins, P. C., & Bell*, J. (2017). Current theories and research in the psychology of gratitude. In S. Donaldson & M. Rao (Eds.), Scientific advances in positive psychology (pp. 103-129). Praeger. 

Watkins, P. C., & Pereira*, A. (2016). Don’t worry be happy: A positive clinical psychology for anxiety disorders. In Wood, A. M. & Johnson, J. [Eds.], The Wiley Handbook of Positive Clinical Psychology (pp. 205-221). Wiley. 

Wood, A. M., Emmons, R. A., Algoe, S. B, Froh, J. J., Lambert, N. M., & Watkins, P. C. (2016). A Dark Side of Gratitude? Distinguishing between Beneficial Gratitude and its Harmful Impostors for the Positive Clinical Psychology of Gratitude and Well-Being. In Wood, A. M. & Johnson, J. [Eds.], The Wiley Handbook of Positive Clinical Psychology (pp. 137-151). Chichester: Wiley. 

Watkins, P. C., & McCurrach*, D. (2016). Exploring how gratitude trains cognitive processes important to subjective well-being. In D. Carr (Ed.), Perspectives on Gratitude: An interdisciplinary approach (pp. 27-40). Taylor and Francis.  

Watkins, P. C., Sparrow*, A., & Webber*, A. C. (2013). Taking Care of Business with Gratitude. In J. Froh & A. Parks (Eds), Activities for teaching positive psychology: A guide for instructors. American Psychological Association Press. 

Watkins, P. C. (2011).  Gratitude and well-being. In C. Martin-Kumm & C. Tarquinio (Eds), Traité de Psychologie Positive: Théories et implications pratiques (pp. 519-537). De Boeck Publishers. 

Watkins, P. C., Van Gelder*, M., & Frias*, A. (2009). Furthering the science of gratitude.  In R. Snyder & S. Lopez (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, second edition (pp. 437-446). Oxford University Press. 

Watkins, P. C. (2008). Gratitude: The amplifier of blessing. In A. Przepiorka (Ed.), Closer to emotions II (pp. 49-62).  Publishing House of Catholic University of Lublin. 

Watkins, P. C. (2007). Gratitude. In R. Baumeister & K. Vohs (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Psychology. Sage. 

Robinson, A. M., Kolts, R. L., & Watkins, P. C. (2006). A trauma by any other name: Examining college students’ PTSD symptoms, posttraumatic growth, and depression following exposure to negative life events. In Stress and Mental Health of College Students. Nova Science Publishers. 

Watkins, P. C., Grimm*, D. L., Whitney*, A., & Brown*, A. (2005). Unintentional memory bias in depression. In A. V. Clark (Ed.), Mood state and health (pp. 59-86). Nova Science.   

Watkins, P. C. (2004). Gratitude and subjective well-being. In R. A. Emmons & M. E. McCullough (Eds.), The psychology of gratitude (pp. 167-192). New York: Oxford University Press. 

Williamson, D. A., Davis, C. J., Goreczny, A., Bennett, S. M., & Watkins, P. C. (1989).  The Eating Questionnaire Revised: A new symptom checklist for bulimia.  In P. A. Keller & C. G. Ritt (Eds.), Innovations in clinical practice: A source book. Sarasota FL: Professional Resource Exchange Inc. 

*indicates student coauthors 

Watkins, P. C. (2025, October). A gratitude reset. Invited presentation to The Erythromelalgia Association, October 18, 2025 (virtual presentation).   

Watkins, P. C., Bowen*, D., & Moreno*, M. (2025, April). Does Joy Promote Wellbeing? In G. Bono (Chair), Community Building with Joy and Gratitude, symposium presented to the annual convention of the Western Positive Psychological Association, Sacramento, CA.  

Watkins, P. C., Thomason*, J., Moreno*, M., & Bowen*, D. (2025, April). The Cost of Gratitude: Why doesn’t the Cost Appraisal Create Gratitude? Paper presented to the annual convention of the Western Positive Psychological Association, Sacramento, CA. 

Watkins, P. C., Bowen*, D., Dodson*, A., Baber*, B. & Mathews, A. (2024, May). Interpretation Biases Foundational to Dispositional Gratitude. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA. 

Watkins, P. C., Frederick*, M., Davis, D. E., & Van Tongeren, D. (2023, July). Interpretation matters to gratitude: Learning from the Pandemic creates more gratitude. In P. Watkins (Chair), New Research on the Cultivation, Causes and Consequences of Gratitude, symposium presented at the World Congress on Positive Psychology, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 

Watkins, P. C., Davis, D. E., Frederick*, M., & Dodson*, A. (2023, May). Exploring the cognitive context of gratitude to God: The importance of positive spiritual appraisals. In C. Park (Chair), Cutting-Edge Approaches to Advancing the Science on Gratitude to God, symposium presented at the 2023 Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, Washington, DC.  

Watkins, P. C., Dodson*, A., & Davis, D. E. (2023, April). Gratitude sticks: How grateful memories maintain their positive impact. In G. Bono (Chair), Recent Advances in Gratitude Research: Various Practices for Thriving in Today’s World, symposium presented at the 2023 Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Riverside, CA.  

Watkins, P. C., Frederick*, M., Elliott*, K., & Mathews, A. (2022, May). Interpretation Biases Underlying Gratitude versus Pride. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, Il.  

Esquivel*, B., Amador, T., Gromfin, D., Watkins, P. & Emmons, R. (2022, April). Gratitude has Decreased Significantly During the Pandemic. Poster presented to the 2022 Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR. 

Ola*, E., Frederick*, M., Watkins, P. & Davis, D. (2022, April). What We Think We Should Feel is Different Than What We Actually Feel. Poster presented to the 2022 Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR. 

Watkins, P. C., & Frederick*, M. (2022, April). Cultivating a grateful interpretation style: Cognitive Bias Modification and Positive Psychology. In P. Watkins (Chair), New research in positive psychology: Advancing our understanding of gratitude and joy, symposium presented to the 2022 Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR. 

Ayala*, Y., Copland*, L., Esquivel*, B., & Watkins, P. (2022, April). The importance of joy to wellbeing: Joy predicts increased happiness over time. In P. Watkins (Chair), New research in positive psychology: Advancing our understanding of gratitude and joy, symposium presented to the 2022 Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR. 

Watkins, P. C., Emmons, R. A., Amador, T., Gromfin, D., & Frederick*, M. (2021, July). Growth of gratitude in times of trouble: Gratitude in the pandemic. Gallery Presentation to the 7th International Positive Psychology World Congress. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.13815.34722 

Watkins, P. C., Huerta, A., Frederick, M., Elliott, K., & Emmons, R. A. (2021, May 26-27). Distinct appraisals elicit memories of joy. Virtual poster presented to the Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science. 

Elliott*, K., Frederick*, M., Watkins, P. C., & Emmons, R. A. (2021, May 26-27). The debt of gratitude to God is greater than the debt of gratitude to humans. Virtual poster presented to the Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science.  

Watkins, P. C., Emmons, R. A., Elliott*, K., & Hutton*, B. (2020, May 21-24). Grateful memories show no fading affect compared to happy memories. Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, Il, United States. 

Elliott*, K., Watkins, P. C., Emmons, R. A., & Hutton*, B. (2020, May 21-24). What is the appraisal structure of joy? Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, Il, United States.

Watkins, P. C., Munger*, P., Mathews, A., & Hutton*, B. (2020, February). Modifying interpretation biases important to gratitude. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, New Orleans, LA, February, 2020. 

Watkins, P. C., Scheibe*, D., & Hutton*, B. (2019, April). Gratitude enhances well-being by promoting meaning. In G. Bono (Chair), Promising horizons in gratitude research: Harnessing its social dynamics to make life meaningful and better. Symposium presented at the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Pasadena, CA.  

Hutton*, B., & Watkins, P. C. (2019, April). The relationship between humility and other positive emotions: A prospective study. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Pasadena, CA. 

Watkins, P. C., & Hutton*, B. (2018, April). Gratitude to God predicts increased gratitude and confidence in God’s existence over time. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Portland, OR.  

Watkins, P. C., Scheibe*, D., & Hutton*, B. (2019, February). Gratitude may promote well-being by enhancing meaning. Poster presented to the Annual Convention of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Portland, OR, February, 2019. 

Watkins, P. C., McCurrach*, D., & Scheibe*, D. (2017, July). The how of gratitude: How does grateful recounting work? In G. Bono (Chair), How gratitude promotes thriving and well-being: Various interventions and methods with adolescents and adults. Symposium presented to the 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology, Montreal, Canada.  

Watkins, P. C. (2017, July). Current theory and research in gratitude: Exploring the importance of appreciation. In M. Warren & S. Donaldson (Chairs), Scientific advances in positive psychology. Symposium presented to the 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology, Montreal, Canada.  

Watkins, P. C., Bell*, J. D., Scheibe*, D., & McGlaughlin*, T. (2017, May). Gender, Gratitude, and Indebtedness: The Debt of Gratitude is Heavier for Men than Women. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, Boston, MA.  

Parker*, J., Watkins, P. C., & Bell*, J. (2017, May). Measuring joy as a distinct state and trait. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, Boston, MA. 

Scheibe*, D., Watkins, P. C., & Uhder*, J. (2017, April). Gratitude toward God: Exploring an important source of spiritual well-being. In P. Watkins (Chair), New research in the science of gratitude. Symposium presented to the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Sacramento, CA. 

Hutchison*, D. E., McLaughlin*, T., & Watkins, P. C. (2017, April). How do grateful people cope? In P. Watkins (Chair), New research in the science of gratitude. Symposium presented to the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Sacramento, CA. 

McCurrach*, D., Watkins, P.C., & Scheibe*, D. (2016, July). Differences in Grateful Recounting Relate to Changes in Subjective Well-being and Trait Gratitude. Paper presented to the 9th Biennial International Meaning Conference. Toronto, Canada.  

Watkins, P. C., Bell*, J., Scheibe*, D., & Solom*, R. (2016, June). Thieves of thankfulness: What factors inhibit the development of gratitude? Paper presented to the 8th Annual European Convention for Positive Psychology, Angers, France.  

Watkins, P. C., McCurrach*, D., & Timbrook*, T. (2016, May). Grateful recounting impacts eudaimonic more than hedonic well-being. Poster presented to the Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, IL.  

McCurrach*, D., Watkins, P. C., & Scheibe*, D. (2016, May). Differences in grateful recounting impact well-being. Poster presented to the Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, IL. 

Scheibe*, D., Watkins, P. C., McCurrach*, D., & Mathews, A. (2016, May). Cognitive characteristics of gratitude. Poster presented to the Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, IL. 

Watkins, P. C. (2015, May, Chair). Joy and gratitude: Exploration of a relationship important to well-being. Symposium presented to the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Las Vegas, NV.  

Watkins, P. C., Hutchison*, D. E., & Kolts, R. (2015, May). Joy in times of trouble: The importance of grateful processing. Paper presented in P. C. Watkins (Chair), Joy and gratitude: Exploration of a relationship important to well-being. Symposium presented to the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Las Vegas, NV. 

Bart*, B., & Watkins, P. C. (2015, May). Joy and spirituality. Paper presented in P. C. Watkins (Chair), Joy and gratitude: Exploration of a relationship important to well-being. Symposium presented to the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Las Vegas, NV. 

• The Form and Function of Gratitude to God (2020—2022). Awarded with co-PI Don E. Davis (Georgia State University) by the John Templeton Foundation. 
• Kindling the Science of Joy (2019-2020). Awarded with co-PI Bob Emmons (UC Davis) by the John Templeton Foundation.  
• Gratitude to God, Planning Phase: Psychological, Philosophical, and Theological Investigations (2017-2018). Awarded with co-PI Bob Emmons (UC Davis) by the John Templeton Foundation.  
• Watkins, P. C. (2002-2003). Gratitude and living the fulfilled life. Research grant funded by the John Templeton Foundation.   
• Watkins, P. C. (1994-1996). Unconscious memory bias in depression. Academic Research Enhancement Award grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health.