What do they want and how can you tell?
The psychology of gift giving.
It's not always easy to find the ideal gift. Especially if you don't know the person very well or want to wow them with your creativity. Fortunately, there are a few tried-and-true tricks you may use to ensure that your gift is received with enthusiasm by the intended recipient.
Why do certain gifts get better reviews while others don't? When looking for the perfect gift, where should you look?
A 1999 study* asked 129 people to describe in detail a situation in which they had received a gift. Ten people reported gifts that weakened the relationship. Two people actually ended the relationship after the gift.
The best kind of gift is one both desired by the recipient and is thoughtful. To get someone the gift they most desire, the obvious thing to do is ask. This approach can achieve high marks on desirability. But it is set up to fail in communicating thoughtfulness.
A study on the psychology of gift-giving undertaken at William Paterson University indicated that receivers felt psychologically closer to their gift-givers when they received feasible (vs. desirable) presents. These findings give light on the impact of various gifts on interpersonal interactions.**
It's also highly unlikely that you'll obtain the right answer. Statistical evidence suggests that the majority of people have no idea what they desire or need.
This causes those purchasing presents to err on the side of caution. Some of the most well-received presents throughout the holidays are chocolate and gift cards.
That’s why we are here to help! We have an extensive know-how when it comes to asking the right questions. For any and all gift-giving scenarios, The Best Gift Finder is your one-stop. Instead than spending time trying to guess what someone would like, why not allow us do it for you?
- Footnote:
- * https://academic.oup.com/jcr/article-abstract/25/4/385/1785887?redirectedFrom=fulltext
- ** https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167218784899
- *** https://news.yahoo.com/survey-reveals-most-universally-enjoyed-161733322.html