Determinants of Gratitude Expressions in England

Abstract

A field experiment (Study 1, N = 228) and a questionnaire study (Study 2, N = 120) were conducted to investigate determinants of gratitude expressions of British speakers. Based on Brown and Levinson's politeness theory, the main hypothesis was that the greater the giver's imposition in benefiting the receiver, the more polite the receiver's expression would be. Study 1 examined in four different situations participants' responses to a giver who opened a door for them. The experimenter's gaze and the extent of his imposition were shown to affect the results. Study 2 manipulated the extent of giver's imposition and the locus of the responsibility (neither, receiver, giver). Tendencies to use more polite expressions in the large-imposition conditions were as expected and were lessened in the giver-responsible situations. In addition, in receiver or giver-responsible situations, apology-type expressions were often used.