Is it Really That Bad to Give a Late Gift?
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The holiday season is over, the presents have been unwrapped, but guilt might still be lingering for those who missed a gifting deadline. A new study offers reassuring news: the impact of a late gift might not be as devastating as you imagine.
“It doesn’t seem to bother most people as much as donors fear,” says Cory Haltman, PhD student in marketing at Ohio State University.
Gifts and timing: A Sensitive Subject?
Researchers have long been fascinated by the psychology behind giving and receiving gifts.Previous studies show gift-givers tend to be more concerned with a gift’s attributes than recipients, suggesting an oversensitivity to its perceived value. But, until recently, little research explored the differences in how givers and receivers perceive the impact of gift timing.
A team at ohio State University investigated this very question among undergraduate psychology students. participants were asked to imagine themselves as either the giver or receiver of a late gift. The results highlighted a significant gap in perception: those envisioning themselves as givers believed a late gift posed a greater threat to the relationship than those imagining themselves as recipients.
This difference suggests that givers place a higher value on punctuality when it comes to gifting, potentially worrying that tardiness signals a lack of care.
“one of the most vital social functions of gift giving is to communicate concern for the gift recipient,so it’s not surprising that people fear a negative impact on their relationship if they’re late with their gift,” explains Rebecca Reczek,professor of marketing at Ohio State University and co-author of the study.
However,the study revealed that recipients are more forgiving than givers anticipate. “They did not see a late gift as a sign of lack of care. they were more forgiving than those who gave late gifts thought they would be,” adds Reczek.
Making Up for Lost Time (and Gifts)
The fear of a late gift also affected the type of present students indicated they would give. Those envisioning themselves as givers expressed a desire to invest more time and effort if their gift was late.
creating a personalized gift basket, for example, was seen as a better option than a pre-made one with the same items, as it demonstrated greater care and effort.
“People felt that if they put extra effort into the gift and made it more personal, it could make up for it being late,” Reczek notes.
The study also examined whether “too late” is a real possibility. Both groups agreed that the later the gift arrives,the greater the potential damage to the relationship. Though, the fear was notably higher among those imagining themselves as givers.
Despite these concerns, everyone agreed that skipping the gift altogether was far worse than being substantially delayed. as Haltman succinctly puts it, “Late is definitely better than never when it comes to giving a gift.”
## Is It Really That bad To Give a Late Gift?
**Archyde:** Joining us today is Cory Haltman, a PhD student in marketing at Ohio State University, to discuss the sometimes stressful subject of late gifts.
**Cory Haltman:** Thanks for having me!
**Archyde:** The holidays are over, but for some, the guilt of missing a gifting deadline might still be lingering.Your recent research suggests that might be unneeded. can you tell us more?
**Cory Haltman:** Absolutely. we found that gift givers tend to overestimate the negative impact a late gift will have on their relationships. They worry that the recipient will see it as a sign they don’t care as much, but that often isn’t the case [[1](https://myscp.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jcpy.1446)].
**Archyde:** So, what’s causing this mismatch in perception?
**Cory Haltman:** It seems to stem from a fear of social judgment. We associate gift-giving with crucial social cues and believe a delay indicates a lack of thoughtfulness or consideration. However,our research shows that most recipients are more understanding than givers anticipate [[1](https://myscp.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jcpy.1446)].
**Archyde:** That’s reassuring news for those who might have slipped up on a deadline. What advice would you give to someone who finds themselves in that situation?
**Cory Haltman:** First, communicate! Explain the delay honestly and sincerely. Most people will appreciate the effort and openness. Second, make the gift personal and meaningful to show you put thought into it, even if it’s late. don’t let guilt consume you – focus on the positive intention behind your gift.
**Archyde:** Thank you,Cory,for shedding light on this common concern. It’s good to know that a late gift doesn’t necessarily have to spell disaster for our relationships.
**Cory Haltman:** You’re welcome! Just remember, it’s the thought that counts.
## Is That late Gift Really a Big Deal? An Archyde Interview
**Archyde:** Joining us today is Cory Haltman,a PhD student in marketing at Ohio State University,whose recent research sheds light on the frequently enough-tricky subject of late gifts. Cory, welcome to Archyde!
**Cory Haltman:** Thank you for having me!
**Archyde:** Let’s delve right into it. Your study examined the impact of late gifts. What were your key findings?
**Cory Haltman:** Interestingly, we found a significant difference in perception between the giver and the receiver of a late gift. Givers tend to overestimate how negatively a late gift will impact the relationship, fearing it signals a lack of care. Conversely, recipients were surprisingly more forgiving, perceiving the tardiness as less of an issue than givers anticipated.
**Archyde:** So, it seems there’s this anxiety around giving a late gift that might be unfounded?
**Cory Haltman:** Exactly. It appears givers place a higher value on punctuality when it comes to gift-giving, perhaps due to the social importance they attach to the act of giving. They worry that being late might express indifference. However, our findings suggest recipients are more understanding than we might think.
**Archyde:** Can you elaborate on any specific examples from your study that illustrate this difference in perception?
**Cory Haltman:** We asked participants to imagine themselves either as the giver or the receiver of a late gift. Those imagining themselves as givers consistently believed a late gift would erode the relationship more than those imagining themselves as recipients.
**Archyde:** This is really insightful. So, what advice would you give to someone who’s worried about giving a late gift?
**Cory Haltman:** Firstly, take a deep breath! It’s likely not as big of a deal as you think. Remember that recipients are more forgiving than you might assume. if you do need to give a late gift, consider putting extra effort into it –
a personalized touch can go a long way in demonstrating your care and sincerity.
**Archyde:** Excellent advice, Cory. This research certainly offers a reassuring message for those grappling with gift-giving anxieties. Thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your valuable insights!
**Cory Haltman:** Thank you for having me.
**Archyde:** And to our viewers, we hope this interview has shed some light on the often-complex world of gift-giving. And remember, it’s the thoght that counts!
