CHAPTER 638 Frank D. Fincham and Steven R.H. Beach Gratitude and Forgiveness in Relationships 29 Parallels between gratitude and forgiveness in scholarly writings are striking. First, numerous authors have bemoaned the lack of attention given to gratitude (e.g., Solomon, 2004) and forgiveness (e.g., Fincham, 2000) by philosophers and social scientists. Second, thriving empirical literatures have emerged in the past 15 years on gratitude and on forgiveness. ird, each is acknowledged to have a rich history extending back to the ancient Greeks, though attempts to draw systematically from this intellectual history are rare. Fourth, both constructs describe processes that are ascribed a central role in social life. Fifth, gratitude and forgiveness orient the person away from their own, selfish interests to the interests of others. A sixth parallel emerging from the last observation is that both gratitude and forgiveness are considered to be virtues. Seventh, Abstract Gratitude and forgiveness have been examined in two separate but parallel literatures. We analyze each literature, documenting similarities and differences across conceptual, prototype, theoretical, and empirical domains, to better identify the commonalities between them and to explicate potential points of connection. Our analysis suggests substantial potential for cross-fertilization and synergy between these areas of research, with likely benefits including enhanced understanding of each area as well as potential advances in applications. In particular, we note the potential for gratitude and forgiveness to influence each other and work synergistically in the context of preventive or remedial interventions. The emerging, joint exploration of forgiveness and gratitude leads to a number of important basic research opportunities that promise to advance understanding of these important processes, particularly their role in interpersonal relationships and the development and maintenance of close relationships over time. Key Words: gratitude, forgiveness, close relationships, theoretical perspectives, evolutionary perspectives, moral affect theory, social-cognitive perspective, gratitude research, forgiveness research each has been linked to personal well-being (for gratitude, see review by Wood, Froh & Geraghty, 2010; for forgiveness, see review by Fehr, Gelfand & Nag, 2010). Eighth, the presumed value of each construct for promoting mental health has given rise to numerous interventions designed to increase their occurrence (see Nelson, 2009; special issue, Journal of Mental Health Counseling, January, 2010; Wade, Johnson, & Meyer, 2008). Ninth, scholars have failed to reach consensus in conceptualizing the precise nature of the constructs of gratitude and forgiveness. In light of the above parallels, it is perhaps surpris- ing to find that research on gratitude and forgiveness has given rise to two largely separate literatures. is outcome is all the more remarkable given that the emergence of interest in gratitude and forgiveness OUP UNCORRECTED PROOF – FIRSTPROOFS, Fri Jan 11 2013, NEWGEN 29_JeffryASimpson_Ch 29.indd 638 29_JeffryASimpson_Ch 29.indd 638 1/11/2013 4:01:14 AM 1/11/2013 4:01:14 AM