Gratitude, depression, fear of emotion, mindfulness
Additional Information:
Anthony Ahrens focuses on gratitude, mindfulness, and fear of emotion. His work on gratitude focuses on two topics. Most research defines gratitude as a reaction to benefits received from others. Ahrens believes that, in addition, some individuals report gratitude for benefits for which there is no clear origin: Some report being grateful for being at the beach on a sunny day, though they might not report being grateful toanyone. He has data using a trait measure of this sort of gratitude, e.g., in response to specific subsequent daily events. Ahrens is interested in the relation of gratitude to the sense of being interconnected. He is also interested in mindfulness. Several researchers have found that mindfulness techniques assist in preventing relapse into depression and in treating for depression. Ahrens is interested in examining the mechanisms by which mindfulness exerts its effects.