#generalizedreciprocity

[gwanth1002]

Generalized Reciprocity

As I sit here thinking of exactly what to write about, connecting last week’s readings with my everyday encounters, I can’t help but notice that consumption and exchange in our society is nearly inescapable. Immediately I recall a snapchat I took earlier this week while with my study group of 2 years. One of the above images is of my friend Cece holding a box of girl scout cookies I brought for the group to share. Almost every week for the past few years, we’ve gathered to study and in that time, have learned one anothers’ coffee orders, preferred 2am study snacks, and other small pick-me-ups to help one another get through the long, late hours in the library.

It’s not expected, nor are these small gifts ever requested. Over time, it has become common practice to just do these small things for one another with the understanding that there is no inequality in the group. There’s no leader, nor do we respect one individual more than any others because of the frequency of the ‘gifts’ they bring to study-time. The trust and mutuality we share means that no one is gifting with the intention of something personal to gain. They are simply a physical by-product of our social interaction, respect, and interpersonal relationship.

Modes of Consumption? Modes of Exchange.

Consumption and Exchange struck me again as I endured the devastatingly long line of GW package services. The number of boxes that go through that department on a daily basis shocks me. The way we consume goods is always changing, and in a society that embraces capitalism and consumeristic tendencies, we are always searching for the most innovative, and efficient ways of conducting exchange and consumption.

Just a quick look at the number of amazon boxes in package services is an indicator of our reliance on the internet and long distance platforms of purchasing goods. As students living in a city we have almost endless options for consumption, yet we still so heavily rely on our privileged ability to click-order something from thousands of miles away and have it brought literally to our feet.

[gwanth1002]

Key Concepts:  Generalized Reciprocity and Pure Gifts

 Early this week, I was overwhelmed with the workload I had on my shoulders and my 8AM class that morning. One of my friends texted me and said that we should take a study break and grab my life’s necessity of coffee, on her. The coffee featured in the picture is from Kafe Leopold which is needless to say very different from the usual coffee I make for myself in my dorm. My friend buying me this gift is an example of generalized reciprocity because there is little to no thought of what my friend would receive in exchange for this gesture.  She was fulfilling the aspects of the definition by completing an exchange involving the least conscious sense of interest in material gain or thought of what might be received in return. It can be said that subconsciously my friend bought me a coffee in consideration that in the future I would do the same. This would mark the gesture as one of generalized reciprocity; however, from an altruistic pure gift perspective, my friend would have given me the coffee with no expectations of reciprocity or self gain.

A pure gift is something given with no expectation or thought of a return. It is difficult to access if any gift is ever truly altruistic or a pure gift. Some argue that such a gift is impossible because individuals always gain something from giving no matter to what extent. For example, the good feeling of making someone feel better can be said to mark the gift as one for generalized reciprocity. In regards to the gift of coffee given to me, I would say that it would be generalized reciprocity with the expectation of anything in return only amounting to the smallest subconscious degree.