Event Title
The Role of Power and Thoughtfulness in Gift Giving
Location
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
Start Date
1-5-2014 2:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 3:00 PM
Project Type
Poster- Restricted to Campus Access
Description
The presented research experiment attempts to establish an association between the type of gift and the power dynamic between individuals involved in a gift exchange. The purpose of our investigation is to examine the effects of various power relationships on social acceptance of receiving a gift from a co-worker during the holiday season. It was predicted that the position within the relationship, whether it be boss or subordinate, would affect the level of appropriateness identified by the receiver. In particular, it was expected that receiving an impersonal gift, compared to a personal gift, in the higher power position would be more acceptable, while receiving an impersonal gift in the lower power position would be more expected and a personal gift would be highly inappropriate in comparison.
Faculty Sponsor
Martha Arterberry
Sponsoring Department
Colby College. Psychology Dept.
CLAS Field of Study
Social Sciences
Event Website
http://www.colby.edu/clas
ID
229
The Role of Power and Thoughtfulness in Gift Giving
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
The presented research experiment attempts to establish an association between the type of gift and the power dynamic between individuals involved in a gift exchange. The purpose of our investigation is to examine the effects of various power relationships on social acceptance of receiving a gift from a co-worker during the holiday season. It was predicted that the position within the relationship, whether it be boss or subordinate, would affect the level of appropriateness identified by the receiver. In particular, it was expected that receiving an impersonal gift, compared to a personal gift, in the higher power position would be more acceptable, while receiving an impersonal gift in the lower power position would be more expected and a personal gift would be highly inappropriate in comparison.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2014/program/318