Why do we love to give gifts? Anthropologist knows the answer

We may think that gifts make us human, but in reality they don’t. At least not exclusively. There are animals like shrike or rat They also exchange gifts, whether for social or mating purposes. But it is clear that there must be something evolutionary in humans that causes us to continue to engage in this practice over the years, regardless of culture or social status.

If we think about it coldly when giving gifts This doesn’t seem like a very smart thing to do.. We offer another person an object that we could keep for ourselves, with the financial cost that this entails. But we continue to do this year after year, special occasion after special event.

Many anthropologists have studied this phenomenon, coming to different conclusions, as one explains: Chip Colwellin an article published in Talk. However, there is one hypothesis that, in his opinion, has more force than the others. Among other things, because it’s not that different from the reasons why other animals also choose to give gifts.

Gift giving is a social problem

The hypothesis Colwell refers to in his article was put forward in 1925 by the French anthropologist Marcel Moss.

According to him, the custom of giving gifts is supported by three pillars in the form of separate actions: give, receive and reciprocate.

Everything is clear with the first two. One person gives a gift to another, thereby expressing kindness, generosity and love. This other person accepts this, showing a predisposition to be honest. And finally, there is an intention to reciprocate. Although not required, there is an unwritten rule that gifts They must be mutual. When we give someone a gift, we convey a testimony to that person so that they can pass it on to us later. Moreover, this gift of yours encourages us to give again, thus entering into a cycle of giving that keeps us united for a long time. Thus, it is an elegant way of establishing social relationships.

We are all looking for reciprocity

Animals may not have this habit of returning gifts, but they are not completed. altruistic.

On the one hand, we find males who give nuptial gifts to the female. They are not looking for another gift, but for something as important as the female’s favor for the reproduction and preservation of the species.

This often happens to both birds and insects. Among the first, for example, is the case royal shrike. Usually the male attracts the female with specific dances and songs. But often he goes even further and prefers to give gifts in the form of food. It has been observed that larger gifts increase the likelihood that they will mate with them, so this is very important.

Insects, for example, have a habit fireflies. In their case, the male gives the females a kind of package containing more than 200 proteins and other chemicals that can increase number of eggs what the female puts. In addition, it includes lucibufagina substance that makes fireflies toxic to predators.

However, other animals strive to communicate, either among themselves or with other species. For example, rats usually exchange favors, such as self-care or material gifts in search of food. It is observed that this forms part of the basis of their social relationships, since the animal that receives remains in debt and, when the time comes, returns the favor. Exactly the same as with animals.

For some birds, such as crows, gift-giving is a way ingratiate oneself with other species. This is why, for example, it is noticed that they usually give away items. stolen people who treat them well. At the same time, they do not seek direct reciprocity, but show gratitude and, above all, a connection with individuals of another species who could provide them with a service in the form of help, if necessary.

Another way to give gifts

In his article for TalkColwell notes that since the purpose of gift-giving is simply to establish social relationships, they need not be materials.

They can be given in the form of experiences such as massages or food, or by choosing crafts or recycled items. This would be a way to stop consumerism on certain dates, such as Christmas, without interfering with the evolutionary intricacies that brought us here.