The Gift of Similarity: How Good and Bad Gifts Influence Relationships

Summary

The work examines gifts as interpersonal signals rather than simply consumer objects, testing how good and poor gifts affect perceived similarity between people and their relationships. This is useful foundation for understanding why a gift can communicate "you know me" or, conversely, reveal a mismatch between how two people understand one another.

Key findings

• Tests how good and poor gifts affect recipients' perceived similarity to the giver and their perception of the relationship.
• Frames gifts as interpersonal signals, not just consumer objects.

Themes

• Relationships & Social Signaling