Gift Giving and the Emotional Significance of Family and Friends

摘要: Gift exchange has been studied mainly by anthropologists. The work of Malinowski and Sahlins suggests a relationship between the closeness social relationships purity gift (the extent to which it is given as an expression sympathy without concrete expectations returns). This article examines giving in Western society. An emotional hierarchy different was constructed on basis analysis feelings accompanying giving. results suggest that friendships are emotionally more important than ties extended kin. Key Words: family, friendship relationships, cement relationships. A range may be involved gift, for instance, inspired sympathetic or being someone else's life. In other cases, morally obliged another person play role. One feels indebted toward this because he she done us favor, rendered service, gift. context non-Western cultures. Anthropologists like (1922), Levi-Strauss (1949/ 1969), (1972) emphasized fulfills functions development continuity society culture. They pointed moral obligation (do ut des I give so you return), they demonstrated how obligations lead patterns reciprocity exchange. Sociologists have contributed theories exchange, too. Gouldner (1973a, 1973b), example, made distinction two norms exchange-one oriented another, altruistic norm. Underlying these theoretical approaches relative share "pure" giving, characterized absence vagueness return gifts, versus based clear-cut mutual obligation. For assume nearer relationship, less resembles economic quid pro quo transaction purer gifts. mentions examples gifts parents their offspring marriage partners each other. greater distance, pure concomitant disinterestedness, sympathy, involvement, stronger reciprocal quo. article, we examine relation suggested anthropologists degree distance holds Dutch sample, who responded questionnaire about Netherlands 1992 (Komter & Schuyt, 1993). might considered good indicator involvement family friends such tangible and, therefore, measurable feeling people. Are types friends? Have networks taken over some function meaning ties? THE GIFT Theoretical Empirical Backgrounds Argonauts Pacific offers detailed description pattern ceremonial among population Trobriand archipelago. He proposes continuum Pure nothing expected return, can barter forms where personal profit dominant motive exceptions. Most typical motives lie extremes. More equivalent reciprocity, clear returns, general rule underlying …