The burden of precious gifts.. Why do some people feel guilty when receiving them?.
Giving gifts, especially when we have a close relationship with the giver, activates key reward pathways in our brains, provided we don't allow stress to rob us of the joy of the moment. The moment of “receiving” the gift may be an extremely negative and bad moment for some. Gifts have a distinct impact on strengthening our social relationship with each other, especially those practical gifts that provide a real benefit to their recipients.