Virginia Sexton American Psychological Association’s Division 36

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High Goal Conflict and Low Goal Meaning are Associated with an Increased Likelihood of Subsequent Religious Transformation in Adolescents

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Baylor University, a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, provides a vibrant campus community for more than 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship.

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Dr. Sarah Schnitker joined the Psychology and Neuroscience Department at Baylor University in fall 2018 as an Associate Professor. She holds a Ph.D and an M.A. in Personality and Social Psychology from the University of California, Davis, and a BA in Psychology from Grove City College.  Prior to joining the faculty at Baylor University, Schnitker was an Associate Professor in the Thrive Center for Human Development at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA.  Schnitker studies virtue and character development in adolescents and emerging adults, with a focus on the role of spirituality and religion in virtue formation.  She specializes in the study of patience, self-control, gratitude, generosity, and thrift.  Schnitker has procured more than $3.5 million in funding as a principle investigator on multiple research grants, and she has published in a variety of scientific journals and edited volumes.  Schnitker is a Member-at-Large for APA Division 36 – Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, is a Consulting Editor for the organization’s flagship journal, Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, and is the recipient of the Virginia Sexton American Psychological Association’s Division 36 Mentoring Award.

Personal Goals

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Patience

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Religious Motivation

Positive Psychology

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reflection-recognition-and-expression-the-science-of-cultivating-gratitude

Professor, Psychology & Neuroscience

Baylor positive psychology researchers offer three ways to increase gratitude and empathy  Credit: Marina Demidiuk / iStock / Getty Images Plus  Gratitude research delves into the science surrounding human emotions and the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of actively expressing gratefulness. Leading Baylor University positive psychology researchers Sarah Schnitker, Ph.D., and Jo-Ann Tsang, Ph.D., who specialize in the study of gratitude, have identified three science-based mechanisms that can cultivate gratitude and improve empathy. This work is especially timely during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

Through the examination of previous studies and the broader literature on the process and benefits of gratitude, the associate professors of psychology and neuroscience have discovered that some previous understandings of gratitude may not tell the whole story. By engaging gratitude in a way that benefits the whole community, the researchers identified ways to engage in gratitude that move the emotions of gratitude beyond a fleeting feeling and become virtuous through helping others.

“Gratitude does seem to increase well-being, but not all the time,” Schnitker said. “It sometimes decreases depression and anxiety symptoms, but not always. It makes you more generous, more kind, more caring, but again, not always,” Schnitker said. “[That’s why] we’ve been looking at how to cultivate gratitude in such a way as to really impact flourishing. Not just individual well-being, but also the well-being of other people around them.”

Deep reflection Through intentional deep reflection of what we are grateful for, we can move past the cycle of “hedonic adaption” – a theory that proposes people will quickly return to a baseline level of happiness, despite the effects of major positive or negative life events – and into a positive emotional state of gratitude.

“You have to pay attention and be intentional about reflecting,” Schnitker said. “Part of the reason is that, like a hedonic treadmill, we get used to our current state; it becomes part of the background, and it no longer benefits our well-being.”

Schnitker describes intentionally recognizing who and what you are grateful for as a tool that leads to feelings of greater happiness and connection.

“What we find is that by incorporating practices that engage deep reflection – that are structured and effortful – it will lead to higher levels of life satisfaction and gratitude,” she said.

Recognizing a giver When you recognize the person for whom you are grateful, you begin to move from feeling thankful for that person to feeling thankful to that person. Schnitker suggests writing gratitude letters to acknowledge those for whom we feel grateful.

“Go beyond being thankful and think about the giver; whether that is God or someone else in your life, take the time to deeply consider them,” Schnitker said. “The suggestion of writing a letter over a list is effective in that you are addressing it to someone outside of yourself, and it can build deeper connections.”

Jenae Nelson, Ph.D., a postdoctoral research associate in Schnitker’s Science of Virtues Lab at Baylor, has found that expressions of gratitude through letter writing towards an entity increased empathy and transcendent indebtedness in participants significantly more than writing a gratitude list. Participants who felt transcendent indebtedness, or a desire to pay it forward, were much more generous in charitable donations than those who just felt gratitude during the experiment.

“This is compelling evidence that gratitude has to work in harmony with other prosocial emotions such as indebtedness and empathy to promote generosity, which are only activated when someone thinks about a person to whom they are grateful,” said Nelson.

Outward expression The act of outwardly expressing thankfulness to the giver, whether that is a human, nature or God, can transform it from a temporary feeling into virtuous gratitude. It is the intentional effort of action that contributes to the flourishing of other people.

“So many of the studies will have people just write a letter and not necessarily send it,” Schnitker said. “Writing the thank-you note and sending it – either electronically or in the mail – may enhance the impact of the gratitude practice. Expressing gratitude is a natural response and can compound its benefits because both the recipient and giver of thanks can experience an increase in positive emotions.”

Essentially, you might not be able to thank the person directly, but expressing your gratitude outwardly could lead to expansive generosity. Research suggests that people treasure feeling thanked. It boosts their own well-being, especially in Western societies and the cultural context of the United States.

"So have the courage to reach out and thank them," Schnitker said.

Gratitude expressed with these components and mechanisms promotes well-being for both self and those around you.

“We find that when people feel that genuine gratitude, not only do they want to pay it back, but they also want to pay it forward,” Schnitker said.
 

Reflection, Recognition and Expression: The Science of Cultivating Gratitude

"Character Strength Development in Adolescents: How Does Religion Affect the Formation of Virtues and the Efficacy of Interventions?," Sarah Schnitker, assistant professor of psychology at the Thrive Center for Human Development at Fuller Theological Seminary

"Character Strength Development in Adolescents," Sarah Schnitker, April 17, 2014

In this episode of the Saturdays at Seven Podcast, Todd Ream interviews Sarah Schnitker, Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Baylor University and Director of the Science of Virtues Lab. They discuss Sarah’s work studying patience and other virtues, as well as how religiosity and spirituality contribute to people’s virtue development. Sarah also shares about working with other researchers across different disciplines to meet the felt needs of various communities.

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Sarah Schnitker on youtube

“Enhancing Human Flourishing” ft. Baylor University’s Sarah A. Schnitker I Saturdays at Seven Ep. 4

Join us as Dr. Sarah Schnitker, an Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Baylor University,  shares her inspiring story and groundbreaking studies that bridge psychology, spirituality, and character formation. Whether you're a psychology enthusiast, a ministry leader, or someone interested in personal growth, this interview offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between human behavior and faith.

0:00 - Introduction
2:58 - Psychology's Utility for Theologians and Ministers
4:34 - What about Studying Patience Excites You?
7:15 - How has Patience Played a Role in Your Life?
9:27 -  What are you eager to dive into next?

For more from Dr. Schnitker:

On the Enneagram: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/january-february/enneagram-personality-psychology-research-based.html

A patience podcast: https://thethrivecenter.org/episodes/the-power-of-patience-how-to-wait-well-persevere-through-suffering-and-navigate-a-fast-paced-world-with-dr-sarah-schnitker/

More patience resources: https://thethrivecenter.org/research/conversing-about-patience/

Sarah Schnitker: Patience for Ministry

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