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Gifts are a traditional part of Christmas – but why do we give presents at all?
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The Psychology Of Exchanging Gifts
According to French anthropologist Marcel Mauss, gift-giving carries many legal, moral, economical and spiritual aspects, and is significant for the whole social fabric. Many ancient cultures follow the intricate rules of gift exchange, which is not a voluntary act, but rather a comprehensive set of rules based on obligation and formality.
If a person does not take part in this obligatory ritual, he or she risks losing respect, moral authority and even wealth.
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Social Behaviour: The Gifting Protocol
The Gift protocol is a non-voluntary strategy to affirm and strengthen the moral bonds of society.
It is a competitive, formal game that diminishes the pure value of gifts and makes it into a set of rules.
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The Rules Of Social Gift Exchange
- Gift-giving is a moral act, with social consequences if done incorrectly. If one signals that he or she is not doing the ‘presents’ thing, the person is then banished from this formality.
- Receiving shoddy gifts with a warm 'thank you' is a part of the ritual based on pretentiousness and social deception.
- Wrapping and personalization of gifts matter, that is why cheques or vouchers feel cold.
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SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
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The Rules Of Sorry
- Accept Responsibility.
- Acknowledge harm and suffering that you may have caused.
- Do make a promise of future correction of the mistake.
- Be sincere.
- Mak...
The Gratitude Trick
A recent study in a marketing journal advises to use gratitude, and start with a note of thanks towards what has been endured by the recipient.
For Example, Saying “Thank you for your patience’ instead of ‘Sorry for the wait’.
Explanations and Excuses
... along with justifications is all we normally blurt out during a heated discussion or argument, and it just makes things worse.
Focus on the present and the future, and not try to justify the past.
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Generosity makes us healthy
Generosity reduces blood pressure as much as medicine and exercise. It also lowers ...
Generosity makes us happy
Feeling good is a product of doing good.
According to a study, giving triggers feel-good chemicals like endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin.
Generosity lowers our stress
Being stingy can actually raise our stress levels, while being generous can keep the stress down.
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Remember what’s essential about holidays
Start to let go of the non-essential
Let’s let go of the myth that you have to spend to give:
- Gift your family with some small experiences, such as caroling, baking, watching It’s a Wonderful Life;
- Volunteer as a family at a homeless shelter.
- Make meaningful gifts. A video of memories. A scrapbook.
- Bake gifts.
- Have an experience instead of giving material goods: do something fun together, go to the beach or a lake.
- Give the gift of your expertise. Are you good at fixing cars? Teaching music? Teaching cooking? Magic tricks? Help or teach someone something you’re good at.