Experiential Gifts Foster Stronger Social Relationships Than Material Gifts

Summary

Recipients reported greater improvements in relationship strength from experiential gifts than material gifts. Importantly, this did not require giver and recipient to consume the experience together. The researchers found that the stronger relationship effect was associated with the emotional response during consumption of the experience.

Key findings

• Involving real-life gift exchanges, recipients reported greater relationship-strength improvements from experiential gifts than material gifts.
• The effect did not require the giver and recipient to consume the experience together.
• The stronger relationship effect was associated with the recipient's emotional response during consumption of the experience.

Themes

• Experiences vs. Things

Used in these research topics

• What Research Says About Gifts for Someone Retiring
• Experience Gifts vs. Physical Gifts: What the Research Says
• What Research Says Gift Recipients Actually Want