Complexities of gift giving

Social practices are ingrained into the minds of people around us. One such practice is the ritual of gift exchange that is widely recognized by societies, although it is celebrated in different ways and each person has their own motivation behind it. Whether that is good or bad is up to each individual to decide. The main altruistic motivations behind gift exchange are to build and strengthen social connections, the benefits of which could be reaped at a later time e.g., to babysit their dogs. The motivations vary according to the context, values, and how the relationship is between two people. Moreover, some people hold rites of passage like weddings to high regard, whereas others hold rites of progression, including birthdays to a higher regard. Hence, the priorities differ for each individual.

Bounded by solidarity Looking through the lens of sociology, society is viewed as a strong influence upon individuals, thus the said individuals are a result of societal rituals and practices, rather than the other way round. Individual purpose and motives come second after the establishment of social bonds. This famous concept which is called "The Division of Labor in Society", was introduced by Emile Durkheim who is also known as the Father of Sociology. Through this he introduced the concept of how social norms influence society. Social groups are held together through reciprocity primarily in the gifting process. Favours carried out – big or small are part of our daily lives. For example, watching someone's belongings for a few minutes and bigger favors as well, like covering shifts for a co-worker. These are considered gifts that are administered freely without expectation. However, the give and return of favours creates a culture of obligation and debt which can plant bitterness into relationships.

Falling into the trap of obligation It is paradoxical that although gifts are used to express affection, at the end of the day there is no escaping the sense of obligation. Stress arises to buy a gift in order to fulfill the moral obligation and this can sometimes override the feelings of warmth or gratitude that one wishes to express. There are three components involved: the obligation to give, the obligation to receive, and the obligation to reciprocate. It is important to be mindful of all three if an individual wants to remain in good social standing with their group, thereby gaining recognition and ultimately avoiding conflicts. If you want to give someone something special, personalized gifts would be one of great options. Gift A Feeling has a wide variety of gifts like personalized gifts for mom blanket, so we can find the best one at affordable price!https://www.giftafeeling.com/collections/personalized-gifts-for-mom/products/personalised-blanket-for-mom

To accept or to not accept? As mentioned above, the obligation to receive and accept the gift has its own complications. If the gift is too expensive, then it serves as heavy burden expensive for the receiver to be able to repay. If the receiver rejects the gift, it can be an act of humiliation towards the giver that in turn cause alternation between the two. Therefore, one cannot slip away from the debt that is formed.

The ambivalent nature of gifts Given the complex nature of gift exchange, it is questionable why gift exchange is mainly seen in the light of altruism when in fact there are also multiple ‘darker’ motives too. The negatives also need to be addressed to grasp the whole picture of its mechanisms.

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