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SupportingPeer-reviewed experimental research· Peer-reviewed

Give Me Your Self: Gifts Are Liked More When They Match the Giver's Characteristics

Paolacci, G., Straeter, L. M., & de Hooge, I. E. (2015). Journal of Consumer Psychology, 25(3), 487–494. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcps.2015.01.006.

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Summary

Recipients sometimes appreciate gifts more when the gift contains a meaningful connection to an important characteristic of the giver, rather than only mirroring the recipient. The effect depended more on core characteristics of the giver than peripheral ones.

Key findings

  • Across four studies, recipients sometimes appreciated gifts more when the gift connected to a meaningful characteristic of the giver, not only the recipient.
  • The effect was stronger for core giver characteristics than peripheral ones.

GiftNav takeaway

This strongly supports eventually using information about both people, not just the recipient. A great gift can sit at the intersection of recipient identity and giver identity.

Themes

Used in these research topics

Last reviewed September 14, 2026.

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