The Psychological Impact of Appreciation across Life Stages: A Gender based Perspective

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21273699

Nitu Jain (Department of Psychology, M.A.C.W, Jhajjar, Haryana)

Appreciation is an important psychological process through which not only a person’s hard work is recognized for its value and existence, but it also positively affects their mental health (Emmons & McCullough, 2003; Seligman, 2002). At every developmental stage of life, appreciation plays an important role. It contributes not only to shaping a person’s personality but also helps in gaining recognition and respect (Erikson, 1950; Baltes, 1987). From a positive psychology perspective, positive emotions are beneficial for cognitive expansion and the development of psychological resources (Fredrickson, 2013). Along with this, studies have also shown that with respect to gender dynamics, appreciation affects people differently (Kashdan, Mishra, Breen, & Froh, 2009; Algoe, Haidt, & Gable, 2008). In the Indian socio-cultural context, characteristics such as a lack of appreciation towards women, over time, reduce their self-worth and manifest as emotional imbalance (Vilkhu & Behera, 2022; Patel & Singh, 2017). Therefore, the present research paper attempts to analyze the psychological role of appreciation, its gender dimensions, and its impact on mental health.