What’s the point of giving gifts?

A thoughtful gift can feel worth more than its cash value. Getty Images Stock Photo An anthropologist explains this ancient part of being human by Chip Colwell, University of Colorado Denver Have you planned out your holiday gift giving yet? If you’re anything like me, you might be waiting until the last minute. But whether every single present is already wrapped and ready, or you’ll hit the shops on Christmas Eve, giving gifts is a curious but central part of being human. While researching my new book, “So Much Stuff,” on how humanity has come to depend on tools and technology over the last 3 million years, I became fascinated by the purpose of giving things away. Why would people simply hand over something precious or valuable when they could use it themselves? To me as an anthropologist, this is an especially powerful question because giving gifts likely has ancient roots. And gifts can be found in every known culture around the world. So, what explains the power of the present? Gifts are usually given reciprocally. Svetlana_nsk/iStock via Getty Images Plus Undoubtedly, gifts serve lots of purposes. Some psychologists have observed a “warm glow” – an intrinsic delight – that’s...