A new study has suggested that thanking a new acquaintance for their assistance can help one to make new friends.
The study conducted by UNSW Australia was designed to test a theory proposed two years ago to explain the benefits to individuals and society of the emotion of gratitude.
UNSW psychologist Dr Lisa Williams, asserted that saying 'thank you' provided a valuable signal that one was with someone with whom a high quality relationship could be formed.
Williams said that their findings represented the first known evidence that expression of gratitude facilitates the initiation of new relationships among previously unacquainted people.
Williams added that with more people communicating by social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, it would be interesting to find out whether just observing someone expressed.
This find-remind-and-bind theory suggests gratitude helps people develop new relationships (find), build on existing relationships (remind), and maintain both (bind).
The study will be published in the journal Emotion.
