Robert Emmons

Robert Emmons is Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Davis and a leading global researcher on gratitude. His work bridges empirical psychology with spiritual traditions, examining how gratitude practices enhance human flourishing across diverse contexts including trauma recovery and religious life.

• Research Focus: Empirical validation of gratitude's psychological impact, spiritual dimensions of well-being, and the neuroscience of thankfulness
• Methodology: Longitudinal studies on gratitude journaling, trauma processing through grateful narratives, and spiritual discipline interventions
• Key Insight: Gratitude functions as a 'remind and bind' emotion that constructs identity through recognition of giftedness and fosters interpersonal connection

His landmark 2014 lecture 'Gratitude Works' at Biola University's Center for Christian Thought remains their most-viewed video, demonstrating public engagement with his research. Emmons integrates Christian theological perspectives with rigorous scientific methodology while studying how gratitude transforms suffering into meaning.