Robert A. Emmons

Robert A. Emmons is an American psychologist and Professor Emeritus at UC Davis, California. His research is in the fields of personality psychology, emotion psychology, and the psychology of religion. His research prominently explores the psychology of gratitude and its connection with positive outcomes in a person's life.

Emmons completed his undergraduate psychology degree in 1980 at the University of Southern Maine, Portland. He then obtained an M.A. in 1984 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign personality psychology and a Ph.D. in the same subject from the same university in 1986, with a thesis "Personal Strivings: An Approach to Personality and Subjective Well-Being." He was an assistant professor at Michigan State University from 1986 to 1988 and came to Davis at the same rank in 1988. He was appointed associate professor in 1990 and full professor in 1996. Emmons has contributed significantly to the field of psychology by writing or editing 6 books and authoring over 100 articles for scientific journals. Additionally, he serves as the editor-in-chief of The Journal of Positive Psychology.

Emmons' research extends to the psychology of individual goal setting, and he has been involved in evaluating the effect of Young Life (a Christian youth ministry) on teens' spiritual fruits as part of a $905,000 research grant from the Templeton Foundation from 2006 to 2009. He has been diligent about finding ways to engender gratefulness in youth, a focus that has garnered recognition in his field. Several of his research projects are focused on gratitude and its impact on well-being, with findings indicating that practicing acts of gratitude like journaling can promote overall well-being.

Emmons has translated his research findings into practical applications through his published works. Some of his notable books include "The Little Book of Gratitude: Create a Life of Happiness and Well-Being By Giving Thanks" and "Gratitude Works!: A Twenty-One-Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity." These works focus on ways to foster appreciation and positivity in different situations, as well as how gratefulness inspires happiness.