“Husband’s Dilemma: How to Break the News That His ‘Thoughtful’ Gift from Wife is a Chore in Disguise?”
OP concludes his post by asking the community whether he should say something or just accept it, move on with his life, and try to enjoy the gift with his wife.
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably received a questionable gift at least once. But just what goes into the psychology of gift giving? And how can you avoid making a blunder when choosing the perfect gift? We went looking for answers.
Image credits: Nicola Barts / Pexels (not the actual photo)
“Humans are an incredibly social species and one of the things that sets us apart is forming and maintaining relationships with others. Gift giving around holidays, birthdays, graduations or weddings is a great opportunity to reinforce those relationships,” says Daniel Farrelly, a psychologist at the University of Worcester.
In his article for CNN, Jacopo Prisco writes that psychologists have long been fascinated by the topic of gifting, mainly because it’s a window into so many other important human traits, such as how we see others, how we assign value to possessions, our decision-making skills, and our ability to empathize.
Prisco goes on to list 5 essential tips for successful gift-giving, including not adding a small gift to a big gift, gifting experiences rather than things, opting for gift cards, thinking like the receiver, and spending more on others than yourself, something that will actually deliver more happiness to you.
In his piece for The Guardian, David Robson points out that there are many pitfalls to picking presents, but a few simple psychological principles can help you make better choices. These include things like thinking beyond the moment, overriding your egotism, and overcoming your fear of sentimentality.
