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Science Shows How to Master the Art of Gift Giving

Science Shows How to Master the Art of Gift Giving

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Gift giving was always considered an art. Now, science has revealed that finding a perfect gift is not that hard.

Highlights:
  • For many people gift giving can be hard. However, science says it can be quite simple if you follow some rules
  • Gifts do not have to be expensive and ideally should be what the recipient would actually use //
  • Perfect gifts don’t have to be enjoyed immediately and giving someone exactly what they ask for might be the perfect gift
We are in the midst of a festive holiday season and gift giving is in the spirit of this season. However, finding the perfect gift is a task. And while being a great gift giver certainly seems like an art that some people either have or they do not. According to science it actually comes down to the ability to set aside our own desires and try our best to anticipate theirs (1 Trusted Source
Why Certain Gifts Are Great to Give but Not to Get: A Framework for Understanding Errors in Gift Giving

Go to source
).
The problem with gift givers is that they are naturally prone to being selfish and prefer to give expensive, tangible, and unexpected gifts because they want to see the recipient’s joy when it is opened rather than giving a gift based on how valuable the gift will be to the recipient throughout his or her ownership of the gift.

While it can sound complicated, becoming a good gift giver is easier than it sounds. Science has shown us that if you follow these simple rules you don't need a psychology degree or a crystal ball to give the perfect gift every time.

Follow these rules to gift your loved one a gift that they will absolutely love:

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Gifts Don’t Have to be Expensive

Holiday marketing campaigns have made us believe that the more money you spend on someone the better the gifts will be, and happier the recipient. However, science does not agree. When it comes to gift giving, it really is the thought that counts. Researchers found that the only people impressed by a high price tag on a gift was the person purchasing the gift. The price has absolutely no impact on the recipient’s appreciation.

There is no evidence that recipients are sensitive to the cost of a gift when they figure out how much they are going to enjoy that gift. It is also important to consider who you are shopping for in relation to expensive gifts. Many times a hefty price tag puts a burden of reciprocation on the recipient, and it can immediately make the gift unappealing and the entire experience unpleasant.

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Gifts Which are Actually Useful to the Recipient

A study illustrated an experiment where researchers approached pairs of individuals and set the duos 10 feet away from each other. They asked one person to complete a word puzzle and as a prize for completing it gave them the option of gifting their companion either a pen described as beautiful but too heavy for everyday use, or a retractable pen that was easy to carry. Unsurprisingly, the majority of people chose to gift the beautiful but impractical pen. However, recipients actually preferred the smaller pen they could actually use. Not only did they prefer it, but according to the research, they were happier if they got the practical pen (2 Trusted Source
Why Feasibility Matters More to Gift Receivers than to Givers: A Construal-Level Approach to Gift Giving Get access Arrow

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).

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Gifts Don’t Have to be Used Immediately

When givers give gifts, they are trying to optimize on the moment they give the gift and see the smile on the recipient’s face right in that moment. But what recipients care about is how much value they are going to derive from that over a longer time period. So, gifting someone a subscription to their favorite application or a gift voucher can be the perfect gift for them.

If Someone Asks for Something Specifically, Give it to Them

Unexpected gifts are not always the most thoughtful gifts. People want to be creative and surprise the recipient, but the better gift will be whatever it is they say they want. This is confirmed by a 2011 study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, that affirms the idea that gifts recipients appreciate the most are the ones that they’ve explicitly asked for (3 Trusted Source
Give them what they want: The benefits of explicitness in gift exchange

Go to source
).

The problem with that is it completely bucks the ingrained idea that most of us have which equates thoughtfulness with a surprise gift. Take note, if someone takes the time to share and update a wish list with you, or they explicitly tell you what they want, listen. You’ll be the hero of the holidays if you fulfill their desires.

Prioritize Experiences Over Gifts

Research has shown that the most memorable gifts always involve experiences. It means that recreating an experience with a loved one could overthrow a gift like a bottle of wine or jewelry. That experience does not have to be shared either. If there is something that someone has been meaning to try for a long time, you can gift them a lesson or a voucher for the same. A 2003 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology revealed that experiences make people happier because they are more open to positive reinterpretations, are a more meaningful part of one's identity, and contribute more to successful social relationships. Experiences create happy memories and enhance our lives much more than material things (4 Trusted Source
To Do or to Have? That Is the Question.

Go to source
).

References:
  1. Why Certain Gifts Are Great to Give but Not to Get: A Framework for Understanding Errors in Gift Giving - (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0963721416656937)
  2. Why Feasibility Matters More to Gift Receivers than to Givers: A Construal-Level Approach to Gift Giving Get access Arrow - (https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article-abstract/41/1/169/1810280)
  3. Give them what they want: The benefits of explicitness in gift exchange - (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022103111000801)
  4. To Do or to Have? That Is the Question. - (https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2003-10055-017)


Source-Medindia


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