"It might be done with good intentions - but buying someone a weight-loss tea or gym membership for Christmas is a really bad idea, according to a new study. Experts have found that self-improvement gifts often make recipients feel judged rather than appreciated. In five experiments involving a total of 1,340 participants, researchers from Florida International University compared reactions to self-improvement products versus neutral versions of the products."
"Across every scenario, people who received the self-improvement gift rated it lower, spoke less positively about it, or were more likely to endorse negative online reviews. When they purchased those same products for themselves, however, the effect vanished. 'Gifts are supposed to signal love and generosity,' study author Dr Linnéa Chapman said.' 'But a self-improvement gift can threaten someone's view of themselves as lovable and acceptable as they are. It challenges a very basic social need-to be valued without conditions.'"
Five experiments with a total of 1,340 participants compared reactions to self-improvement products and neutral versions of similar products. Recipients of self-improvement gifts consistently rated the gifts lower, spoke less positively about them, and were more likely to endorse negative online reviews. The negative reactions disappeared when people purchased the same products for themselves. Examples included a 'Get Lean' weight-loss tea versus Moroccan tea and a 'Communications Skills' calendar versus a trivia calendar. Common self-improvement gifts include Peloton and FitBit gift cards, gym memberships, weight-loss products, pre-packed healthy meals, Botox or skin treatment gift cards, and self-help books. Analysis revealed that two-thirds of participants had previously received a self-improvement product as a present.
Read at Mail Online
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