Here’s how you can consistently give the perfect gift.
Tired of shopping for hours at the mall and not finding anything? Can’t think of anything surprising to give to the lovely women in your life? I’ve struggled with that too and especially during Christmas.
It’s not easy finding a gift you think someone will like and in fact surveys by the national retail federation in the US expect something between 40-50% to return at least one holiday gift every year ? Did you also know that up to a 1/3rd of people end up re-gifting gifts based on a survey by American Express ?
That’s what makes the findings from this gift-giving research so interesting. What type of present best shows that you care? Should you give them a surprising gift or just give them something that they have mentioned on their wish list?
It’s not easy finding a gift you think someone will like and in fact surveys by the national retail federation in the US expect something between 40-50% to return at least one holiday gift every year ? Did you also know that up to a 1/3rd of people end up re-gifting gifts based on a survey by American Express ?
That’s what makes the findings from this gift-giving research so interesting. What type of present best shows that you care? Should you give them a surprising gift or just give them something that they have mentioned on their wish list?
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Photo : Flickr/ FutUndBeidl
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The Study on Gift Giving
Researchers did a series of studies on gift giving where participants imagined either they were trying to find a present for their partners or were receiving a gift.
Very commonly, when the majority of participants took on the role of the gift giver they believed that they should come up with a surprising gift that wasn’t on their partners wish list. The reasoning behind this is that by coming up with their own present that they think they would like, it would show that they are more thoughtful and caring and thus more appreciative.
Turns out this isn’t true.
The Secret to the Perfect Gift
When participants take on the role of receiving the gift, they were actually more appreciative and see it as more thoughtful when you get them exactly what they requested on their wish list. That means if they share with you what they want as a present, you should get them exactly that.That means if you don’t really need to shop for hours in the mall guessing at what you think they might like. Can’t think of something surprising to get for them? Don’t worry about it and instead focus on getting them to tell you exactly what they would like and then get it for them.
Surprise is overrated and you’ll be rated as more thoughtful and caring and thus more appreciated if you get them the exact gift they wanted. Best of all? The research finds that this applies to non-romantic relationships as well so it doesn’t matter whether it’s your best friend or even brother or sister.
Videos on creative gift giving
If you still want to add some creativity and make your gifts more special, check out the gift section of my YouTube channel where I share simple ways you can make any gifts more amazing. Most of them won’t cost you a thing.==
Youtube Channel on Gift ideas
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhzLJZAV-UECCJAsLZNq3X-SVDOKWhXlE
CreateBonds Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CreateBonds
To see more videos like this, visit my channel at :
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1846jphp3jWutMDB_KqLog/videos
Email me for ideas or help
Steviee.vu+createbonds@gmail.com
Gift by Nicolò Bertoncin from the Noun Project
https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=present&i=105032
Research Study
Gino, F., & Flynn, F. J. (2011). Give them what they want: The benefits of explicitness in gift exchange. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47, 915-922Photo :
