Question

Marshall Sahlins observed that there are three distinct types of reciprocity that occur in human societies around the world. Which of the following statements is a description of what he described as generalized reciprocity?

a) an economic exchange in which there is an explicit expectation of immediate return.
b) an attempt to get someone to exchange something he or she may not want to give up or an attempt to get a more valued thing than you give in return
c) gift giving without the expectation of an immediate return

Answer 1

Generalized reciprocity, as observed by Marshall Sahlins, is the practice of gift giving without the expectation of an immediate return, seen commonly among close relationships like family and friends.

Step-by-step explanation:

Marshall Sahlins identified three distinct types of reciprocity in human societies, and generalized reciprocity refers to gift giving with no expectation of an immediate return. This form of exchange can be viewed as altruistic, yet when rigorously practiced, it leads to more or less equal exchange of goods among members of a group over time. In modern contexts, we often see generalized reciprocity among family members or very close friends, such as staying at your parents' house and not paying for a soft drink from the fridge or sharing a vehicle without the expectation of compensation.