The Surprising Science Behind the Power of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and while it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, research suggests that we often underestimate the significance of future experiences, including holidays like Thanksgiving.

According to Erin Westgate, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Florida, people tend to underestimate how meaningful future experiences will be. This phenomenon is not limited to holidays, but also extends to everyday acts and life decisions.

Westgate’s research, which is supported by a National Science Foundation grant, aims to uncover why people often underestimate the meaningfulness of future experiences. Her team has conducted several studies, including one that asked University of Virginia undergraduates about their expectations for Thanksgiving.

The results were surprising: students overwhelmingly underestimated how meaningful Thanksgiving would be for them. Westgate’s team repeated the study with a larger sample of UF undergrads and found the same result.

So, why do we tend to underestimate the meaningfulness of future experiences? Westgate believes that it’s because we don’t fully process events until they actually happen. As a result, we often miss out on opportunities for meaning and fulfillment.

The implications of this research are significant. By recognizing that we tend to underestimate the meaningfulness of future experiences, we can take steps to appreciate and make the most of these experiences.

So, this Thanksgiving, take a moment to appreciate the little things. Write a thank-you note, attend that party, and take time to reflect on the things that truly matter.

By doing so, you may just find that Thanksgiving is more meaningful than you expected.

References:

Westgate, E. (2024). The surprising science behind the power of Thanksgiving. University of Florida News.

Westgate, E., & colleagues. (2024). Underestimating the meaningfulness of future experiences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 127(5), 931-943.