Gift-giving is a tradition we've been practicing for centuries. From birthdays to holidays, giving a gift has become the de-facto way to show the spirit of celebration.
Finding the perfect gift, however, can stress us out. Luckily, tons of research busts some of the myths about gift-giving. One common myth is people prefer expensive gifts - research says that's a lie. The truth is people often appreciate inexpensive gifts just as much.
Another myth is that people like getting symbolic gifts. Again, false! Overall, people would rather get a practical gift.
So, do people like fancy gifts that aren't as useful, or do they prefer less fancy gifts that are super useful? A recent study in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin answers this very question.
When they compared two gifts of the same price, they found that gift recipients felt psychologically and physically closer to a gift-giver if they gave them a more useful (but less fancy) gift.
And even though the recipient liked both gifts equally, they still felt closer and more connected to the gift-giver when the gift was more useful.
So which gift should you give that special someone? When deciding between two gifts, choose the more useful one, even if it's cheaper. The person getting the gift will feel like you know them better, and maybe you'll even save a few bucks.
With more families spending holidays apart this year, a gift of experience (like taking a class or watching a movie) may be a better option. In a study that looked at material gifts vs. experiential gifts, the researchers saw that experiential gifts made relationships stronger.
And even if the gift giver wasn't there to participate in the experience, it still strengthened their relationship with the gift recipient.
More to read in the Journal of Leksi.