The Psychology Behind the Stress of Gift Giving

Feb. 8, 2024
Caucasian male in dark green sweater giving brown gift box to African American woman in yellow sweater

Diego Guevara Beltran, a postdoctoral fellow who studies factors affecting empathy and well-being, talks about the psychology behind the stress of gift giving in a Q&A with UA News. 

Headshot - Diego Beltran - Staff Member (Postdoc)

He talks about the idea behind gift giving, the stress involved in selecting the most appropriate gift, and the benefits that gift giving has for the giver and the receiver - for Valentine's Day and beyond. Ultimately when people receive gifts, they're often inclined to want to reciprocate, which could cause stress when they can't always reciprocate - but can also create reciprocal chains of investment by showing somebody that you care for their well-being, and that they care for yours.

Read the Full Q&A

Updated: 02/08/24