Robert Emmons

Education

• Ph.D., Personality Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• M.A., Personality Psychology, Minor: Clinical Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• B.A., Psychology, University of Maine

About

Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Davis where he has taught since 1988. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana‚ÄëChampaign. He is the author of over 200 original publications in peer‚Äëreviewed journals or chapters and has written or edited eight books, including The Psychology of Ultimate Concerns (Guilford Press), The Psychology of Gratitude (Oxford University Press), Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier (Houghton-Mifflin), Gratitude Works! A Twenty-One Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity (Jossey-Bass) and The Little Book of Gratitude (Hachette). A leader in the positive psychology movement, Dr. Emmons is founding editor and editor-in-chief of The Journal of Positive Psychology. His research focuses on the psychology of gratitude and joy as they relate to human flourishing. Professor Emmons speaks regularly at medical and psychological conferences and at public events. Dr. Emmons has received research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, the John M. Templeton Foundation, and the National Institute for Disability Research and Rehabilitation. His research has been featured in dozens of popular media outlets including the New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, Time, NPR, PBS, Consumer Reports, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Today Show. He lives with his wife of 24 years, Yvonne and their two sons and two dogs in Davis, California.

Research Focus

Professor Emmons' research is at the interface of positive psychology and the psychology of religion. His research focuses on the psychology of gratitude, joy and grace and how they are related to human flourishing.

He is co-project director with Dr. Peter Hill on a $4.1M initiative entitled Gratitude to God: Psychological, Philosophical, and Theological Perspectives. It includes a requests for proposals (RFP). Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/Gratitude-to-God

Lab

Publications

• Emmons, R.A. (2016). The Little Book of Gratitude: Create a Life of Happiness and Well-Being By Giving Thanks. London: Gaia.
• Emmons, R. A. (2013). Gratitude Works! A Twenty-One Day Program for Creating Emotional Prosperity. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
• Emmons, R. A. (2007). THANKS! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier. Boston, MA: Houghton-Mifflin.
• Emmons, R. A.,& McCullough, M. E. (Eds.) (2004). The Psychology of Gratitude. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Emmons, R. A., & Hill, J. (2001). Words of Gratitude. Radnor, PA: Templeton Foundation Press.
• Emmons, R. A. (1999). The Psychology of Ultimate Concerns. New York: The Guilford Press.
• Emmons, R.A. (2016). The Little Book of Gratitude. London: Gaia.

Teaching

Professor Emmons teaches in the areas of social-personality, personality and religion, health psychology, and gratitude and well-being. Most recently he has taught courses in Psychology of Religion and Health Psychology.

Awards

Professor Emmons has won several awards and grants during his career. In 2010 he received the William James Award, APA Division 36, and in 2008 he received the Henry A. Murray Award, APA Division 8. He has also been awarded numerous grants from the John Templeton Foundation, The Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, National Institute for Disability Research and Rehabilitation and National Institute of Mental Health, among others. He is co project director with Pete Hill on a $4.1M initiative entitled Gratitude to God: Psychological, Philosophical, and Theological Perspectives: https://tinyurl.com/Gratitude-to-God