A guide map to the terrain of gift value

This article integrates a broad range of gift-giving literature into a conc eptual framework that puts the all too often overlooked construct of person al value at its core. Although there have been substantial contributions fr om the fields of anthropology, sociology, economics, and consumer behavior, efforts to model gift giving have failed to put the value of the gift-givi ng experience at the center of the exchange. Within this article, a model o f the gift-giving experience that overcomes this critical shortcoming is pr oposed. The model establishes clear categories for breaking the giving proc ess into easily examinable elements, and it is argued that although the con cept of value is not a simple one, it should be central to any examination of the gift-giving phenomenon. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.