How To Give a Great Gift, According to Science

Santa’s Secret: It’s that time of year when many of us start going into panic mode about gift ideas, especially for the people in our lives who are hardest to shop for. Thankfully, science is here with a bit of seasonal inspiration. Researchers from the University of Bath recently found that personalized gifts can elicit a positive emotional response in recipients called “vicarious pride.”

The Benefits: Across four experiments, people who received personalized gifts reported a warm, satisfied sense of appreciation that appeared to raise their self-esteem. In short, adding a personal touch can turn an everyday object into something that feels meaningful. The researchers also noted that people tend to take better care of gifts that feel special, which may help reduce waste.

How to Do It: Personalization doesn’t need to be elaborate. A custom label on a favorite snack or someone’s name inscribed on a journal can be enough. Just as important is communicating the thought behind it. Researchers found that small gestures, such as adding a brief note explaining why you chose a particular color or phrase, strengthened the emotional connection between the giver and recipient. Need some more ideas? Check out this guide.