How to Predict the Perfect Gift

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Nov 20, 2017, 15:10 ET

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It's an age-old question. Do shoppers pick out a gift they think someone might like, or do they purchase exactly what the recipient has asked for?

At Carnegie Mellon University, behavioral economists tackle complicated problems using a distinct fusion of economics and psychology. They work to understand why we eat unhealthy food, pay women less than men and even how to give the perfect gift. Here are four science-backed tips to help during the holiday shopping season.

Avoid Guessing

Projection bias is a phenomenon that describes how people believe others hold the same beliefs and values as they do—and will in the future. When gift giving, shoppers often try to predict what the recipient would like, thinking recipients will share their same tastes.

"If you like dark chocolate and loath milk chocolate, it's very tempting to give dark chocolate, even if the gift recipient's tastes are opposite to yours; it's very difficult to imagine that another person would enjoy receiving a gift that you would hate," said George Loewenstein, the Herbert A. Simon University Professor of Economics and Psychology in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and co-founder of the field of behavioral economics.

Be Aware of Your Shopping Environment

Kareem Haggag, assistant professor of economics in the Social and Decision Sciences Department, studies attribution bias, and his work shows the gift-givers past experiences will influence their opinion of a product.

He advised gift-givers to be careful and think about past experiences with an item they are considering purchasing.

Consider Whether Past Holidays Are An Influence

If you were not thanked by a recipient in the past, you may be less likely to put time and effort into gift-giving for that person in the future, according to Shereen J. Chaudhry (DC'13, '16).

Chaudhry said that words of thanks are more than "cheap talk" and help keep relationships healthy.

Focus on the Long-Term

Researchers led by the Tepper School of Business' Jeff Galak found that that gift givers tend to focus on the moment of exchange when selecting a gift, whereas gift recipients are more focused on the long-term utility or practical attributes of the gift.

For more information, visit: https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/news/news-stories/2017/november/behavioral-economics-predict-perfect-gift.html

SOURCE Carnegie Mellon University