Understanding the brain science behind giving and receiving gifts
Psychology and neuroscience suggest that giving gifts to other people can be very rewarding to ourselves and others.
University of Arizona Communications: Rajalakshmi Article 12/5/2023
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is upon us and part of the holiday cheer revolves around exchanging gifts.
The acts of giving and receiving gifts encompass many emotions. Spending money on others brings happiness to the gift-giver, studies say. In fact, psychologists have confirmed that the warm glow of kindness, the feel-good rush after being kind to others, is real. A 2019 study says that people who give benefit regardless of whether they gain something from gifting others.
Jessica Andrews-Hanna.
In this Q&A, Jessica Andrews-Hanna, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology, in the College of Science, discusses in detail the psychology and neuroscience behind giving and receiving gifts.