through History, Literature, Religion & Biology
Arnold Shapiro, MD
November–December 2019 • Vol 3, No 107
The topic of gratitude has captured my attention in recent months. In this article, let’s first define gratitude, examine its history in literature, and see how it is portrayed in world religions. Then, let’s talk about the biological response to gratitude and end with an inspirational quote.
So, what is gratitude and why is it so deeply ingrained in the human psyche? Gratitude has been described as the “social glue” that binds people together, the “reciprocal altruism” that has helped humans survive, and even the “backbone of society.” We understand that gratitude is a sense of thankfulness and joy in response to receiving a gift. The word derives from the Latin gratia, which means grace, gratefulness, and graciousness.
