Do you have Gift-Giving Anxiety?
Studies Conducted on Gift Giving Anxiety
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Furthermore, we must acknowledge that there are instances when there is no proper present to give. A person suffering from poor self-esteem or depression may struggle to accept the present as the kind gesture that it meant. When someone has a false stereotype of us, our gift may be flawed just because it originated from us. Our kind present will be perceived as careless, while our pricey gift will be read as an attempt to purchase love or show off. Fearing shame or criticism, a self-conscious individual concerned over what others think may waste absurd amounts of time attempting to make the correct impact and obtain the favor of others via their gift-giving. Will our presents make us appear attentive or careless? Will they conform to the person's expectations for how much work or money to spend? Will our presents appear little or generous in relation to the contributions of others? Will we feel humiliated if our present is less substantial than the one received?
What is gift-giving anxiety?
When the to-do list is lengthy there is just not enough time to put effort and patience into the present, gift-giving may be quite stressful. Many people believe that they have spent far too much money on presents that will not be acknowledged. All of the triggers may make an individual feel extremely uncomfortable, and this anxiety increases based on the individual's need for acceptance or their fear that they, or the gift, would be assessed badly.
Do you have Gift-Giving Anxiety?
If spending too much time or money on gifts is your biggest concern over the holiday season, it is critical to set gift-giving guidelines for yourself. You may accomplish this by:
- . Making a precise budget for yourself and adhering to it regardless of what happens.
- Making a list of present recipients and rating them in order of importance.
- Assigning a certain amount of money to specific present recipients.
- Recognizing that you are a busy person and forgiving yourself if you do not complete everything on your to-do list.
Studies Conducted on Gift Giving Anxiety
According to research on gifting anxiety, people become worried when they are strongly driven to elicit desirable emotions from receivers and others, yet they are skeptical about their chances of succeeding. The discovery that gifting anxiety stems from concerns about future reactions to presents lends support to the idea that gifting anxiety stems from the human need to regulate interpersonal impressions. Prospective givers grow concerned when they believe their financial resources are insufficient to satisfy gifting obligations. Limited resources induce anxiety by making providers apprehensive if their offerings will evoke the intended emotions.
Gift anxiety has lately been investigated by academics interested in examining America's gift-giving culture, who were motivated by gift-giving studies in other nations. Because it may entail a discussion of identity, this social culture might produce gifting anxiety. Gift anxiety may arise, for example, when the giver is purposefully gifting problematic people or when the giver is unsure about sufficiently gratifying the receiver.
According to Miki Nomura's research, the tighter the relationship between the donor and the receiver, and the more difficult the recipient, the more anxiety the giver feels about picking presents. Distressed presenters sometimes blame challenging receivers who are difficult to please or whose gift preferences are hard to properly establish. They are challenging because they thwart givers' attempts to play desirable social roles. As a result, a bad reaction from the receiver may shame not just the present but also the giver. According to the findings of the survey, many of the respondents felt intense pressure to "do the right thing" when it came to gift-giving scenarios. They also discovered that the incorrect gift may be seen as an "unfortunate error" but was nonetheless "long remembered." A bad present may be a "waste that disappoints, frustrates, irritates, disturbs, embarrasses, hurts, and disheartens."
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Navleen Kaur
Psychology Blogger,
GiftAFeeling Inc.