Psychology of Gift-Giving

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. em. Bernd Stauss held the Chair of Service Management at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt.

• Gift giving: joy, duty and frustration.- Gift and counter-gift: the reciprocity rule.- The valuation of the gift: the recipient decides, not the giver.- The financial value of the gift: can't buy me love?- The emotional value of the gift: empathy, surprise, sacrifice.- Gifts as information media: what they say about the giver and the relationship with the recipient.- Gifts in romantic relationships: what enhances and what weakens the relationship?- Gifts to different recipients: who gets anything at all and how much?- Difficult givers and recipients: risk reduction strategies.- Cash gifts and vouchers: when are they taboo and when are they welcome?- Handling over and receiving the gift: the moment of truth.- Gifts and gender: Santa Claus is a woman.- Gifts and culture: what applies globally and what regionally?.