With the holiday season fast approaching, a time of giving and receiving is upon us.
It’s universal human behaviour that we feel compelled to return a favour or reciprocate by giving a gift when we receive one. We have a strong impulse to repay in turn what we receive.
This tendency has stayed throughout humankind as it has survival value because what makes us human is the system of reciprocity.
We are human because our ancestors understood the value of sharing their food and skills. This web of indebtedness is the valuable way that the exchange of labour and goods and services can allow movement and progress.
The rule of reciprocity can also help you with small talk at any holiday events you may be attending. When meeting someone new say something interesting and then let them speak. You learn more about who they are and what they do. They are more interested in reciprocating as you listened first so you built goodwill without saying much first.
Happy Holiday Season