Past research on gratitude assumes that norms of reciprocity are incompatible with personal relationships as they are based on the rigid normative expectations characteristic of market-based exchange. Challenging this assumption, the present investigation demonstrates the importance of recognizing that norms of reciprocity take a less rigid and more tacit form in the case of personal relationships. Using a vignette-based experiment, Study 1 (N = 200) demonstrated that when expectations to reciprocate are framed in ways that reflect their normative character rather than are portrayed as based on self-interested individual expectations, this is associated with greater likelihood of helping, enhanced gratitude, and more positive personality impressions. In an online game, Study 2 (N = 108) showed that players reciprocate less money to their exchange partner in the presence as compared with the absence of self-interested individual expectations for return. Assessing real life helping among friends, Study 3 (N = 128) revealed that indebtedness is predictive of helping and that indebtedness and gratitude promote relationship closeness in contrasting ways.

过去关于感恩的研究假设互惠规范与个人关系不相容，因为它们基于基于市场的交换的严格规范期望特征。挑战这一假设，本调查证明了认识到互惠规范在个人关系中采取不那么严格和更默契的形式的重要性。使用基于小插曲的实验，研究 1 (N = 200) 表明，当以反映其规范特征的方式来构建对回报的期望时，而不是被描绘成基于自利的个人期望，这与更大的帮助相关，增强的感激之情，以及更积极的个性印象。在网络游戏中，研究 2 (N = 108) 表明，与没有自利的个人期望回报相比，玩家在场的情况下向交换伙伴回报的钱更少。评估现实生活中朋友之间的帮助，研究 3 (N = 128) 表明，负债可以预测帮助，而负债和感激以相反的方式促进关系亲密。