...Interpretation of Gift-giving Behavior in Modern Norwegian Society Iver Mysterud, Department of Biology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway. Email: mysterud@bio.uio.no Thomas Drevon, Department of Biology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway (Current address: USIT, Web gruppa, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1086 Blindern, NO-0317 Oslo, Norway) Tore Slagsvold, Department of Biology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway Abstract: We have studied gift giving at Christmas among 50 graduate students in Norway. The students invested more the closer the coefficient of relatedness. However, partners ranked highest, which is natural for people at the start of their reproductive career. All students gave to their parents, siblings, and children, most gave to their grandparents, and only a third gave to some, but not all, of their genetic aunts/uncles. Twenty percent gave to first cousins, and none to second or third cousins. Similar patterns for gifts received were found. There were also sex differences (e.g. women had larger exchange networks than men), and birth order effects. Firstborns spent more on relatives than laterborns. However, middleborns gave more to their male friends than both firstborns and lastborns. We conclude that the results are consistent with theories of kin selection, reciprocity, sex differences and birth order effects. Keywords: gift giving, kin selection, reciprocity...
Words: 10449 - Pages: 42
...Psychology of Gift Exchange Mayet, C. & Pine, K. J. University of Hertfordshire Internal Report 2010 Gift giving is a social, cultural and economic experience; a material and social communication exchange that is inherent across human societies and instrumental in maintaining social relationships and expressing feelings (Camerer, 1988, Joy 2001). Research within different disciplines to gain insight of gift giving behaviour has continued for over forty years. Gifts are bestowed in celebration of key life events, a medium for nurturing personal relationships, to encourage economic exchange and to socialise children into appropriate behaviour patterns (Belk, 1979). Obligations within a community require that individuals are required to give, receive and to reciprocate (Mauss, 1954). In his essay the French anthropologist-sociologist Marcel Mauss (1954), presented a theoretical analysis of the gift-giving process, that was based on his examination of giftgiving amongst various primitive, secluded, or ancient societies. He concluded that giftgiving is a self-perpetuating system of reciprocity and summarised three types of obligations which preserve gift-giving: 1. The obligation to give. 2. The obligation to receive. 3. The obligation to repay. The requirement to give may be ingrained in religious or moral necessities, with a strong need to recognise and maintain a status hierarchy and to establish or maintain peaceful relations, or merely the expectation of reciprocal giving. These motives...
Words: 4262 - Pages: 18
...Megan Coburn Professor Tabitha Kenlon ENGL1111 19 March 2013 Giving gifts to get what we want- Gifts with an Ulterior Motive For thousands of years communication has been construed ambiguously. Regardless of whether it’s what we are feeling or what we need, the fact remains that humans have a hard time conveying everything they want to say during conversation (with verbal speech) and, likewise perceiving it. With regard to these factors, I wish to examine the underlying motives behind the process of gift giving, throughout the centuries, in different contexts and across various cultures. Individuals offer gifts, symbolically, for many reasons and in varying circumstances. Gifts may be distributed ritually, or in such a way that they distinguish hierarchies. They may also be used as a sign of affection when wooing a partner and are frequently utilized in business relations. It is important to note that there exists a difference between gifts given to other people and gifts given to oneself. A gift giving behavior is defined as a “process of gift exchange that takes place between a giver and a recipient.” (Keng, Kau Ah, Wang, Quain, and Mohammed Abdur Razzaque, 214) In the opinion of Schall, “culture is a rule-based phenomenon,” in other words, to be considered actively apart of a culture one is required to observe and conform to all of the implied and tacit rules that society deems apropos. Circumstance or situations are an important aspect of these untold rules that...
Words: 1887 - Pages: 8
...in this situation, the consulting firm ICC, who specializes in international and cross-cultural business predominantly in China, has been hired to provide quick feedback in the Chinese language and culture. One part of the memo is particularly eye-catching; it states the following: “You should plan to spend at least three weeks in Beijing, and we should seek (and plan for) daily meetings with various MOI officials. The meetings should be staggered so that we meet with each relevant official individually every 2 or 3 days while in country. At each meeting Meridian should begin the meeting by presenting the MOI official(s) with a gift, and the value of gifts received by each official should increase with each successive meeting. We recommend that you choose gifts from the tiered lists in Appendix A. It is likely that MOI officials will present you with gifts as...
Words: 252 - Pages: 2
...Generally, people try to win the hearts of others to get the benefits and giving advantage to people as in Segon and Booth (2011, 16) which states that in western country gift giving is considered as bribery Asia is considered as a friendly action. In this case, a manager of the Australia Mining Corporation company needs to make an ethical decision whether to purchase a luxury gift. Since received information that gift giving able to secure the contract between the Asian Company. The ethical decision making models are utilitarian, moral rights and justice. This essay will be discussing on whether the manager should purchase a gift while negotiating a cross culture business. Moral right is not suitable because moral is one behavioral value base on certain criteria or conduct that is acceptable by the society (Boganovic, Cingula and Ivanisevic 2014, 80). In this case the humanity right is not being considered in the decision making process. If using transposition consideration, the Australia mining sector manager becomes the receiver and received an expensive and luxurious gift. Surely, none of the receiver will reject it. Moreover, the contract benefits company and stakeholder. Both company are able to do culture exchange. In additional, company should consider profit instead of humanity rights. Profit is more important to the company. If the manager considers humanity rights is more important the company will not be improve. Manager will be too scare to take risk and being...
Words: 1280 - Pages: 6
...potential ethical issues faced by Acme Corporation? By Frank giving gifts to Otis to entice him into purchasing more inventory, the ethical issue of bribery arises. If consumers or potential customers learn about Frank giving gifts to get sales, it could cost Acme Corporation fines and declined consumer trust. Outsiders could perceive Acme’s misconduct as a bribe or the impression that the company has to give bribes because their products are inferior. In addition, the fact that Frank is concerned about management finding out about the gift giving to Thermocare; despite Amber’s approval of his actions, means Acme may not approve of the gift giving, or the misappropriation of corporate funds. 2. ------------------------------------------------- What should Acme do if there is a desire to make ethics a part of its core organizational values? An ethics program should be created and an ethics officer assigned to oversee it. The program should include the values, beliefs, and established and enforced patterns of conduct that employees will need to have in place to identify and respond to ethical issues. The company may also want to include a section in the ethics protocol that bans gift giving to attract sales. 3. ------------------------------------------------- Identify the ethical issues of which Frank needs to be aware. The ethical issues Frank needs to be aware of is, perceived bribery for giving gifts to Otis, misappropriation of company funds for the Cubs tickets...
Words: 432 - Pages: 2
...a man, she should extend her hand first. Women friends greet with a kiss on each cheek, starting with the left and alternating cheeks. Married women kiss twice, while a single woman receives a third kiss. 1 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT First names should normally be used, but titles are important. In business, men are addressed as "senhor" plus their surname, while women as "senhora" plus the surname. Business cards (either in your language or Portuguese) are a necessity when greeting in business meeting. But Brazilians need to know who they are doing business with before they can work effectively. Gift giving Giving a gift is not necessary during a first meeting. A relaxed social situation is the best time to present a gift. If invited to a Brazilian's house, bring the hostess flowers or a small gift. If you did not...
Words: 727 - Pages: 3
...The main, general theme of this story by O'Henry is that giving is the greatest gift of all. Della gives up her most cherished possession, her beautiful hair, to get a gift for her husband, Jim. She buys him a fob for his favorite possession--a pocket watch. Jim sells his pocket watch to buy beautiful combs for Della to adorn her hair. Both gave up their most valued possession in order to give something to the one they loved. The story is classic O'Henry with well developed characters, a city setting for the impoverished pair of young marrieds, and an ironic twist to the end of the story. Two aspects of one theme that run together in this story are sacrifice and love. Jim and Della already possess the greatest gifts they can ever possess: they have each other's love, a love that is willing to sacrifice for that love. They are compared to the Magi, who knelt at the manger where the infant Jesus lay and brought gifts to honor him. But they knew, the Magi, that their gifts were small insignificant tokens compared to what this infant child would give to them. They honored him, just as Della and Jim honor each other by sacrificing their prize possessions to buy the other a worthy gift for Christmas. It is the sacrifice involved in this process that is at the heart of the theme--unselfish love, which is rare and should be cherished. In O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," the theme of the story is that of selfless giving from the heart, like that of the magi or wise men in the Christmas...
Words: 1270 - Pages: 6
...English 1102 “The Gift of the Magi” “The Gift of the Magi” is a very touching story written by O’Henry. This story is often told during the Christmas season and teaches the true meaning of gift giving. The main characters in the story are Jim and Della. They are a very poor married couple that lives in a ragged flat with only two prized possessions. Della's beautiful, brown, knee-length hair is one of the two great prized possessions of the poor couple. Her hair was gorgeous and she loved it. The other is Jim's gold watch that was passed down from his grandfather and father. Jim also loved his watch. The story opens with Della counting one dollar and eighty seven cents. It is one day before Christmas and she wants to buy her husband Jim a gift. She cries hysterically because there was not enough money to buy a gift. The story continues as Della walks to the mirror and gains her composure. She looks at her hair, pulls it back, and walks out of the door. Della walks to Madame Sofronie's hair goods shop, and she sells her hair for twenty dollars. She now has twenty-one dollars and eighty seven cents. After Della sells her hair, she goes to several different stores looking for Jim’s gift. She looks for several hours until she finds the perfect gift. The gift she finds seems to be made perfectly for Jim’s watch. Della finds a platinum fob chain. As soon as she saw the chain she knew it was perfect. The chain seemed to be like Jim with its quietness and value. The new chain...
Words: 830 - Pages: 4
...Nurses-R-Us Newsletter November 9, 2015 Nurses-R-Us Newsletter November 9, 2015 Dear Employees The holidays are quickly approaching make sure you give the gift that will keep on giving Nurses-r-Us will be having a blood drive November 19, 2015 in the dining hall goal is 150 pints we need a gift of life donate. TAKE PART IN THE INCREDIBLE GIFT BASKET RAFFLE Join us Monday November 24, 2015, for a chance to win a beautiful gift basket. Tickets May be purchased in the Nurses –r-us lobby from 8a.m.-4p.m. Proceeds will go towards Angel Tree. Dear Employees The holidays are quickly approaching make sure you give the gift that will keep on giving Nurses-r-Us will be having a blood drive November 19, 2015 in the dining hall goal is 150 pints we need a gift of life donate. TAKE PART IN THE INCREDIBLE GIFT BASKET RAFFLE Join us Monday November 24, 2015, for a chance to win a beautiful gift basket. Tickets May be purchased in the Nurses –r-us lobby from 8a.m.-4p.m. Proceeds will go towards Angel Tree. BECOMEA MENTOR: Introducing Nurses-r-us Big Program Nurses-r-us are extending an opportunity for employees to participate in a school based mentoring program. The school based program is one-to-one mentoring, with children age’s six to 12 that takes place on school grounds during school hours. Employees will find one hour each week, with permission and coordination from their supervisor, to go to together. If would like to mentor and missed the interest meeting at the facility...
Words: 495 - Pages: 2
...Cultural Environment of China Nowadays, the core of economic is move gradually from America to China. However, not many business people are familiar with Chinese culture, so study the cultural environment of China become the first mission. Business people will contact with Chinese business people and officials, so they have to understand Chinese culture deep enough. Below will list a few cultural facts in China. Giving Gift Etiquette "Unlike many countries, the giving of gifts does not carry any negative connotations when doing business in China."(2012) In, China exchanged gifts in a celebrations as a thanks for assistance. In addition, the business gifts should be always reciprocated. They will make a same value gift to reciprocate. Therefore, do not be an iron rooster for the gift given to Chinese business people. Face "Roughly translated as 'good reputation', 'respect' or 'honour,' one must learn the subtleties of the concept and understand the possible impact it could have on your doing business in China."(2012) There are some categories of the face situation. "1) where one's face is lessened through their involvement in an action or deed and it being exposed. The loss of face is not the result of the action, but rather it's being made public knowledge. when face is given to others through compliments and respect. 3) face is developed through experience and age. When one shows wisdom in action by avoiding mistakes their face is increased. 4) where face is increased...
Words: 460 - Pages: 2
...TIPS TO PEOPLE DO BUSINESS IN THE UK 1. Exchanging business cards: • Timing: In the U.K, business cards are usually given at the end of a meeting or event. It is polite to offer your own business card in return as opposed to simply accepting the offered card. It is also acceptable to exchange business cards at the beginning of a meeting, although it is better practice to exchange cards when you have built up a rapport with the person involved. • Expected Information: They should contain your name and position title, contact number, email address and website address. If possible, your business name, logo and services or products also should be listed. it is common practice to have a double-sided card in the U.K. with the business details on the front and the personal contact details on the back 2. Shaking hands Shaking hands is a common form of greeting • A handshake is standard for business occasions and when visiting a home. • Women do not always shake hands. • In business, a light handshake is standard. • When visiting a home, a handshake is proper; however, a handshake is not always correct at social occasions. Observe what others do. • In the UK it is usually a single right hand that does the shaking. Very few people shake with their left hand and it is deemed rude to offer your hand without taking your glove off first. 3. Bowing 4. Kissing 5. Being formal...
Words: 669 - Pages: 3
...nerves and cause me to smile. I hear the soft singing of little children parading through the streets, giving out simple joys for onlookers and passers-by. I take a walk down the street and what captivatingly caught my eye is this. A little child, not older than three years old, was taking off her jacket to offer to her shivering mother. She herself was quivering but when her sickly mother started yet again another coughing fit, she couldn’t take it any longer and took off her all too small jacket and offered it, against her mother’s disapprovals. Both mother and child were beggars, living off on alms handed out to them. They lived on the street by the church corner and waited for some sort of miracle to happen. That simple gesture of warmth and caring was enough to set my heart to a shudder. This child indeed holds within her the true and real essence of generosity in such a cold and unkind time. The true essence of Christmas and giving is not found under the roof of a very wealthy family who shower their spoiled kids with toys and gadgets while they are away at work, it is found under a “nipa” roof of a complete family sitting in front of the table, sipping soup, looking into each others eyes, ready to offer their bowls to the little ones who still yearns for more. Generosity and Christmas are truly intertwined with one another but do not necessarily mean gifts and material things. It could be hugs that could be offered by anyone or smiles that would always warm...
Words: 601 - Pages: 3
...Sayler Sociology 101006 Professor Megan Cortez 7 March 2016 Weirding the Normal: A Colorado State- Pueblo Football Game The Caplow article is about Rule Enforcement without Visible Means: Christmas Gift Giving in Middletown. This article talks about how people in the town of Middletown would give gifts. The town had gift giving for Christmas set up in many different ways. Some ways the town would do it were “Participants in this gift system should give (individually or jointly) at least one Christmas gift every year to their mothers, fathers, sons, daughters; to the current spouses of these persons; and to their own spouses” (Caplow 1315). The article also talks about Christmas lights, decorations, the tree rule, the wrapping rule, the gathering rule, the dinner rule, the gift selection rule, and the scaling rule. Caplows article goes more in-depth about how each family is supposed to honor Christmas. The tree rule, for example, says “of the forty-five married respondents with children under eighteen only two of families did not have trees” (Caplow 1308).The wrapping rule says that “a subsidiary rule requires that the wrapping be appropriate, that is, emblematic and another subsidiary rule says that wrapped gifts are appropriately displayed as a set but that unwrapped gifts should not be so displayed” (Caplow 1310). There were many different rules for many situations. For this paper I decided to write about my experience at a college football game. This game was located at...
Words: 1181 - Pages: 5
...My Spiritual Gifts Part 1 [pic] Eunice T. Payne June 5, 2014 Revised August 13, 2014 INTRODUCTION When I was asked to go online and take a spiritual gift test my first thought was, (“Lord what the world is coming to”?) We really have to rely on the internet for everything these days?” Then I thought hey why not take it what can it hurt, I’ll go on and humor them. As I started to read the questions I felt like the questions needed more substance or needed to be worded differently; not realizing the devil was trying to discourage me from reading what I was about to find out. \ By the time I finished the test it read PASTOR, FAITH, GIVING. Each word had a meaning or explanation for each one. I looked real hard at “Pastor” and laugh then I called my son who is a minister and yes he’s from the old school like his momma. I said son I just took this test and explained to him what is was for. Of course he had the same reaction as I did when I was told about the site. He laughed. Well as we went on in conversation I gave him the end results and said now what I look like being a Pastor. I mean I have been around a lot of spiritual gifted people for most of my life and have been told by several that there’s an anointing on my life or that my light shines bright and have a spirit of victory, but never did I hear anyone say I would be a pastor or fit those shoes. Then a voice said you have been ministering to people young and old for over 20 years and you don’t...
Words: 2012 - Pages: 9
