Reciprocity constitutes a major exchange system in every society. Reciprocal exchange involves the transfer of goods and services between two people or groups based on role obligations. Birthday and holiday gift giving is a fine example of reciprocity, as during these occasions, we exchange goods not because we necessarily need or want them, but because we are expected to do so as part of our status and role. If we fail in our reciprocal obligations, we signal an unwillingness to continue the relationship. The main idea behind reciprocal exchange is the concept of giving. According to French sociologist Marcel Mauss, the ‘gift’ is the form and reason behind the exchange in societies. He focused on how exchange of objects, or as he liked to
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Cronk provides us with the example of Indians and European and their exchange of gifts. The Indians offered the European explorers a gift as a sign of maintaining good relations but when there was no gift returned, it became a sign of discourtesy. Despite the fact that the demonstration of giving gifts may seem to be inherently generous, a gift’s ability to humiliate others force the reciprocity can make it a powerful weapon in society. Cronk provides us with the example of the Kwakiutl, in Canada, where every clan would compete with one another for honor and prestige by seeing who would give away the most property. During time of inflation, the Canadian government began to restrain warfare between the clans and this act of gift giving became a method of battle. Giving larger gifts would cause real fear during times of …show more content…
By giving gifts to people in society, one can manipulate their position in society. Society tends to give a sense of indebtedness to others and maintaining status through these acts of gift giving and by doing so, one can move up or down social hierarchy. By offering gifts to those higher up in society and by reciprocating and maintaining these relationships, one can sustain themselves and their relationships in society. This can also be used, further, to put someone in debt and buy loyalty. By offering people gifts so large, they are then indebted to the donor and thus have fallen down the social hierarchy, where they are left with very little power. This can be displayed in an example about the Khu-zesta-n Province in Iran. This location was extremely rich in oil fields and was very close to Iraq, making it strategically well placed. The government devised a white revolution plan where people were forced to leave to new model towns and villages as the government had an irrigation project of tens of thousands of acres. By taking apart these local institutions, the government gained more control over the area and the townsmen who previously had the authority had their voices and power crushed due to the government’s gift of the new model towns and the irrigation project. This can even bring about a sense of gratitude, anger or even embarrassment. Gift
Cronk provides us with the example of Indians and European and their exchange of gifts. The Indians offered the European explorers a gift as a sign of maintaining good relations but when there was no gift returned, it became a sign of discourtesy. Despite the fact that the demonstration of giving gifts may seem to be inherently generous, a gift’s ability to humiliate others force the reciprocity can make it a powerful weapon in society. Cronk provides us with the example of the Kwakiutl, in Canada, where every clan would compete with one another for honor and prestige by seeing who would give away the most property. During time of inflation, the Canadian government began to restrain warfare between the clans and this act of gift giving became a method of battle. Giving larger gifts would cause real fear during times of …show more content…
By giving gifts to people in society, one can manipulate their position in society. Society tends to give a sense of indebtedness to others and maintaining status through these acts of gift giving and by doing so, one can move up or down social hierarchy. By offering gifts to those higher up in society and by reciprocating and maintaining these relationships, one can sustain themselves and their relationships in society. This can also be used, further, to put someone in debt and buy loyalty. By offering people gifts so large, they are then indebted to the donor and thus have fallen down the social hierarchy, where they are left with very little power. This can be displayed in an example about the Khu-zesta-n Province in Iran. This location was extremely rich in oil fields and was very close to Iraq, making it strategically well placed. The government devised a white revolution plan where people were forced to leave to new model towns and villages as the government had an irrigation project of tens of thousands of acres. By taking apart these local institutions, the government gained more control over the area and the townsmen who previously had the authority had their voices and power crushed due to the government’s gift of the new model towns and the irrigation project. This can even bring about a sense of gratitude, anger or even embarrassment. Gift