How can I choose the perfect gift, according to science?

Here we are, it’s one week until Christmas Day, meaning it’s your last chance to buy gifts for loved ones. There’s always a certain amount of pressure on givers to get their choice right, which can lead to stress.

Gifts at Christmas are pretty much expected, so you have to do a little better than with a spontaneous gift at any other time of the year. Fear not, science is here to help you hit the nail on the head! In 2016, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Indiana University in the US looked at all existing studies on gift-giving and receiving to create a review. Their findings were published in the Current Directions in Psychological Science journal.

What makes a gift “good” then? Should I avoid surprise gifts then? What about experience-driven gifts? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A Bababam Originals podcast, written and produced by Joseph Chance.

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