The Gift of Psychological Closeness: How Feasible Versus Desirable Gifts Reduce Psychological Distance to the Giver

Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
SoYon RimYaacov Trope

Abstract

Gift-giving is a common form of social exchange but little research has examined how different gift types affect the psychological distance between giver and recipient. We examined how two types of gifts influence recipients' perceived psychological distance to the giver. Specifically, we compared desirable gifts focused on the quality of the gift with feasible gifts focused on the gift's practicality or ease of use. We found that feasible (vs. desirable) gifts led recipients to feel psychologically closer to givers (Studies 1-4). Further clarifying the process by which receiving a desirable versus feasible gift affects perceived distance, when recipients were told that the giver focused on the gift's practicality or ease of use (vs. the gift's overall quality), while holding the specific features of the gifts constant, they felt closer to the gift-giver (Study 5). These results shed light on how different gifts can influence interpersonal relationships.

References

Oct 1, 1992·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·R F Bornstein, P R D'Agostino
Jun 30, 2000·Contemporary Educational Psychology·S Olejnik, J Algina
Jan 6, 2006·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Steven J SpencerGeoffrey T Fong
Apr 21, 2006·Psychological Science·Kentaro FujitaNira Liberman
Nov 8, 2006·Journal of Experimental Psychology. General·Cheryl J WakslakRotem Alony
Jan 5, 2007·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Michael I NortonDan Ariely
Jan 1, 2008·Journal of Experimental Social Psychology·Ido LiviatanNira Liberman
Jan 21, 2010·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Elena StephanYaacov Trope
May 5, 2010·Psychological Review·Yaacov Trope, Nira Liberman
Mar 9, 2011·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Harry T ReisEli J Finkel
Aug 13, 2011·Journal of Experimental Social Psychology·Elena StephanYaacov Trope
Jul 11, 2012·Journal of Experimental Psychology. General·Yan Zhang, Nicholas Epley
Jan 2, 2013·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Soyon RimYaacov Trope
Jan 5, 2016·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·David A KalksteinYaacov Trope

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 18, 2020·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·Peggy J Liu, Ernest Baskin
Aug 11, 2021·Current Opinion in Psychology·Peggy J Liu, Theresa A Kwon

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

CLT

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The Virtual Mentor : VM
Frederick S Sierles
The Virtual Mentor : VM
A Kao
Bulletin of the Medical Library Association
H T PERKINS
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved