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Publications
  • February 2019
  • Article
  • Journal of Experimental Psychology: General

Pettiness in Social Exchange

By: Tami Kim, Ting Zhang and Michael I. Norton
  • Format:Print
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Abstract

We identify and document a novel construct—pettiness, or intentional attentiveness to trivial details—and examine its (negative) implications in interpersonal relationships and social exchange. Seven studies show that pettiness manifests across different types of resources (both money and time), across cultures with differing tolerance for ambiguity in relationships (the United States, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria), and is distinct from related constructs such as generosity, conscientiousness, fastidious, and counter-normativity. Indeed, people dislike petty exchanges even when the (petty) amount given is more generous (e.g., a gift card for $5.15 rather than $5), suggesting that pettiness may in some instances serve as a stronger relationship signal than actual benefits exchanged. Attentiveness to trivial details of resource exchanges harms communal-sharing relationships by making (even objectively generous) exchanges feel transactional. When exchanging resources, people should be wary of both how much they exchange and the manner in which they exchange.

Keywords

Relationships; Personal Characteristics; Perception; Societal Protocols

Citation

Kim, Tami, Ting Zhang, and Michael I. Norton. "Pettiness in Social Exchange." Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 148, no. 2 (February 2019): 361–373.
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About The Authors

Ting Zhang

Organizational Behavior
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Michael I. Norton

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
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    Irrationality in Action: Decision-Making Exercise

    By: Alison Wood Brooks, Michael I. Norton and Oliver Hauser
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    Learning Down to Train Up: Mentors Are More Effective When They Value Insights from Below

    By: Ting Zhang, Dan Wang and Adam D. Galinsky
    • March 2023 (Revised March 2023)
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    Laughter on Call: Injecting Conversational Levity

    By: Alison Wood Brooks, Michael I. Norton and F Katelynn Boland
More from the Authors
  • Irrationality in Action: Decision-Making Exercise By: Alison Wood Brooks, Michael I. Norton and Oliver Hauser
  • Learning Down to Train Up: Mentors Are More Effective When They Value Insights from Below By: Ting Zhang, Dan Wang and Adam D. Galinsky
  • Laughter on Call: Injecting Conversational Levity By: Alison Wood Brooks, Michael I. Norton and F Katelynn Boland
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