Verbal Appreciation Pales in Comparison to Material Gifts, According to Psychologists
A groundbreaking study published on Psychology Today has revealed that giving gifts can be more effective than conversations for emotional recovery. The study, conducted by a team of social psychologists, involved seven experiments to determine which method of support is more helpful - talking or giving a gift.
The study found that support receivers who were given small gifts, such as a pastry and coffee, showed significantly greater emotional rebound than those who only received supportive conversation. This suggests that the physical act of gift-giving promotes emotional well-being by reinforcing social bonds and signaling care more concretely than verbal support.
The key factor that makes gifts effective for emotional recovery is the gesture and attention they convey. Gifts are perceived as a sign of genuine attention and effort from the giver, which enhances the feeling that the giver truly cares about making the recipient feel better. Receiving a gift also provides a pleasant surprise and a distraction from negative emotions, facilitating a smoother emotional recovery.
Interestingly, the study does not specify the nature of the personal problems discussed by the participants or the specific types of gifts that are particularly effective for emotional recovery. It also does not provide information on the duration of the improvement in mood after receiving a gift or the demographic of the participants involved in the experiments.
The study does not discuss any potential long-term effects of giving gifts for emotional support. However, it does emphasize that the effect of a gift on emotional recovery does not depend on its price. Even small, inexpensive, or zero-cost gifts can have a significant impact on emotional recovery.
In one experiment, participants who received a gift reported a more noticeable improvement in their mood compared to those who had a supportive conversation. This underscores the importance of gift-giving as a means of emotional support, particularly when a friend or loved one is going through a difficult period.
In conclusion, gifts act as a "silver bullet" for emotional recovery because they make recipients feel more valued and supported through tangible evidence of care, something verbal conversation alone may not convey as effectively. If one has to choose between conversation and a gift, a gift has a stronger impact on emotional recovery. This new study provides valuable insights into the power of giving gifts for emotional support and may change the way we approach supporting loved ones during difficult times.
[1] The study can be found on Psychology Today's website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/202102/the-power-giving-gifts-emotional-recovery
Gifts, such as a pastry and coffee, were found to be more effective for emotional recovery than conversations, according to a study published in Health-and-Wellness section of Psychology Today. The key factor that makes gifts beneficial for emotional recovery is the attention and care they convey, as well as providing a pleasant surprise and distraction from negative emotions. Interestingly, the study did not discuss any potential long-term effects of giving gifts for emotional support, but it did emphasize that even small, inexpensive gifts can have a significant impact on emotional recovery.
