Scientists reveal the secret to perfectly wrapped Christmas presents: forget about ribbons and bows

December is the time to buy a lot of Christmas gifts, the design of which is often as important as their content.

Some people decorate the packages with ribbons and bows, while others simply pack them in boxes or bags. In the meantime, scientists say they have discovered the secret of perfect packaging. According to MailOnline, it turned out that most people prefer to receive gifts in simple packages.

A team from the Beijing University of Technology and Business examined people's attitudes toward overly packaged gifts through a series of studies involving more than 2,600 participants.

In one study, people were asked to rate how they felt about a gift after being shown it in three types of packaging: overpackaging, regular packaging and no packaging.

In another experiment, participants were asked to imagine giving or receiving a gift - packaged excessively or normally - from a close or distant friend.

The analysis showed that people who give gifts tend to favor overpackaging, believing that it shows they are thoughtful.

However, recipients tended to prefer simple packaging, considering extravagance to be wasteful.

When the event was mandatory or the relationship was distant - for example, exchanging gifts in the office - negative views of excessive packaging were stronger.

When it came to exchanging gifts with close people - for example, a good friend's birthday - overpackaging did not influence opinions.

Haijiao Shi, lead author of the study, said, "Gift-givers see overpacking as a thoughtful gesture, while recipients often view it as wasteful. Our study highlights the importance of understanding these differing perspectives, suggesting that simpler packaging could improve recipient satisfaction."

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