Micro Generosities and Social Bonds

• In Event: 1452 - Group Bonding and Binding: Cohesion, Morality, and Social Norms

Abstract

Popular culture suggests that even small, “random” acts of kindness can make a difference, and research generally supports this pop-culture proposition. In this paper, I examine the impact of “micro generosities,” defined as individual acts of small-scale, non-reciprocated giving, on the development of social bonds. I focus on micro generosities in the form of generalized exchanges—one-way transfers with indirect repayment among three or more actors, sometimes referred to as “paying it forward.” The potential for generalized exchange to build social bonds, such as solidarity, affect, and commitment, is the subject of theoretical debate. Relative to other forms of exchange, generalized exchange is predicted to generate the strongest bonds by the theory of reciprocity in social exchange, but it is predicted to generate the weakest bonds by the affect theory of exchange. Here, I propose a theoretical reconciliation in support of both theories: under certain conditions, generalized exchange comes to resemble a system of productive exchange, a highly collaborative form of exchange which—like the theory of reciprocity’s prediction regarding generalized exchange—is predicted by the affect theory to generate strong bonds. Results from a laboratory experiment support my argument: moderate to high levels of generalized exchange build strong social bonds, in support of the theory of reciprocity, but low levels of giving do not, in support of the affect theory.

Author

• Monica M. Whitham, Oklahoma State University