Our level of giving or taking is shaped by our interactions.

Our giving behaviors are shaped by social context. People don't neatly fit into giver, taker, or matcher categories; an individual may adopt different roles in different settings.

Communities and perceptions influence our generosity - takers may appear generous in public, while givers may give less if their efforts are unappreciated. The Freecycle community's norms lead even self-identified takers to give.

We're more inclined to help those we see as similar to us, as shown by Manchester United fans' higher willingness to assist an injured runner wearing their team's shirt.