The Psychology of Gift Giving

The concept of gift giving has been around for centuries, with evidence of gift exchange found in ancient cultures such as the Ancient Egyptians and the Ancient Greeks. Gift giving can be motivated by a desire to strengthen social bonds, to express gratitude, or to seek reciprocity. According to a study by Harvard University, gifts are a way to signal our relationships and to create a sense of obligation and reciprocity. The gift economy is a system in which goods and services are exchanged without the expectation of payment or reciprocity. The cultural significance of gifts varies greatly from one society to another.