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Pettiness in social exchange.
Tami Kim1, Ting Zhang2, Michael I Norton2
1Darden School of Business.
Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
|July 31, 2018
Summary
Focusing on trivial details in exchanges, known as pettiness, can harm relationships. Even generous exchanges feel transactional when attention is paid to minor details, signaling a lack of communal sharing.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Pettiness, or excessive focus on trivial details in exchanges, is a novel construct.
- Understanding its impact on interpersonal dynamics and social exchange is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and document the construct of pettiness.
- To examine the negative implications of pettiness in interpersonal relationships and social exchange across cultures.
Main Methods:
- Seven empirical studies were conducted.
- Research involved examining exchanges of money and time across diverse cultural contexts (US, Switzerland, Germany, Austria).
Main Results:
- Pettiness is distinct from related constructs like generosity and conscientiousness.
- People perceive petty exchanges negatively, even when objectively more generous.
- Pettiness signals relationship issues more strongly than the actual benefit exchanged.
Conclusions:
- Attentiveness to trivial details in resource exchanges damages communal-sharing relationships.
- Pettiness makes exchanges feel transactional, undermining relationship quality.
- Individuals should consider both the quantity and manner of resource exchange to maintain healthy relationships.
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