The biggest mistake we make when choosing gifts

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Scientists have taken the issue of choosing gifts seriously and have identified a problem because of which your present can only cause disappointment.

For the holidays, sociologists revised Jeff Galak, Julian Givi, Elanor F. Williams. Why Certain Gifts Are Great to Give but Not to Get Decades of research into giving and receiving gifts. The results showed that there is one mistake people make the most when choosing a presentation.

This single misunderstanding results in at least seven mismatches between expectations and reality. They can be corrected, and then the gifted person does not have to pretend that he likes the gift: he will be really happy.

Jeff Galak of Carnegie Mellon University's “Why Certain Gifts Are Great to Give, but Not to Receive” shows that givers tend to focus on the moment of giving, they want to surprise, impress, pick up what they think is suitable only for the gifted.

The problem is that something completely different is important to the gifted person. And this is more than just a spectacular gift out of the box. Practical application is important, the use of the gift throughout its entire service life.

Here are some examples of the mismatch between expectation and reality that you can keep in mind and make your gift more desirable.

1 -

Instead of gifting material items such as gadgets and clothing, give the person a new experience or enjoyable pastime, such as a gift certificate to a restaurant or tickets to a sports game.

2 -

When we buy a gift, we believe that it should bring immediate satisfaction, and we rarely think about whether it will be used in the future. For example, we would rather give a bouquet of blossoming flowers, as it looks beautiful and bright. We ourselves would prefer to receive flowers that have not yet opened, so that they delight us longer.

3 -

It seems to us that the longer we think about a gift, the more pleasant it will be, but of course it is not.

4 -

If the person being gifted has a wish list, then it is better to stick to it, rather than try to impress with something incredible. It seems to the giver that the wish list is a too obvious thing and it is better to somehow surprise with a gift. But the recipient is likely to be more happy with the option from his list.

5 -

An expensive gift seems better, but people do not appreciate the importance of the present for its price. The thing can be expensive and useless.

6 -

People love to give gifts that show how well they know the person. For example, a gift card from your favorite store. But it's better to give something more versatile.

7 -

It does not always make sense to give a gift if it is difficult to use or requires additional equipment, even if the item is of very high quality. Buy something simpler, albeit less solid.