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Related Experiment Videos

Gift wrapping ourselves: the final gift exchange.

Jonathan I Marx1, Jennifer Crew Solomon, Lee Q Miller

  • 1Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Winthrop University, 701 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill, SC 29733, USA. marxj@winthrop.edu

The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
|September 11, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Older adults often face dilemmas when disposing of cherished possessions, especially those tied to their material self. Sharing object stories and understanding others' preferences can ease this final gift exchange process.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Sociology
  • Consumer Behavior

Background:

  • Older adults often downsize residences, necessitating the disposal of personal possessions.
  • The process of relinquishing cherished items can be emotionally challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To qualitatively examine the "final gift exchange" process in older adults.
  • To understand how cherished possessions are given away in return for appreciation.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative study involving interviews with 54 individuals aged 50-90.
  • Analysis of disposal of personal objects using Goffman's spiraling strategy.

Main Results:

  • Identified three dimensions: family, economy, and self.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Developed a heuristic of eight ideal-type gift exchange scenarios based on object value and connection to self.

    • Conclusions:

    • Disagreements over object meaning and value create disposal dilemmas, particularly for items linked to one's material self.
    • Recommendations include inquiring about preferences and sharing object-related stories to foster shared understanding.