The Psychology of Personalized Gifting: Why It Matters More Than Ever
In our digitally driven world - we have a need for more meaningful connection with our loved ones, friends etc – yet at the same time it's never been easier to communicate and connect with people.
But real connection, real experience sharing is totally different than surface level connections.
We can go deeper with these connections with our loved ones by spending quality time with them, writing emotional cards for them, sharing our feelings etc. but we can also celebrate real emotional connections with our loved ones through personalized gifting.
Our motto is share the love and with just the process itself, it celebrates the connection between the gift giver and gift received and is good for the wellbeing of both the gift recipient and gift giver.
At Cloncaia, we specialise in crafting thoughtful, made to order gifts which are designed to emotionally connect people. We have delved into the research on the psychological on this we find fascinating and the science backs up what we see on the ground with people.
Why Personalized Gifts Mean So Much
The beauty of personalized gifting is they are about people, peoples lives, the connection between people.
The gift giver has to apply their mind to think what will make their loved gift recipient happy. They will know the gift recipient, they will know what Message or Photo will mean something for the gift recipient. The gift recipient then gets a very personal gift. Unlike a generic gift it is made just for them.
So if this is a Photo canvas print, mug, pillow etc. a name-personalized cosmetic bag - a personalized gift says : 'I know you, I see you and I care' and what is better than that.
The Psychology Behind Personalized Gifting
A study published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology tells us that people feel more valued when they receive personal over impersonal gifts.
We know from research published in Science Daily that personalization changes a gift into a more meaningful experience which raises the recipients self-esteem.
We know that personalized presents show true care of the gift giver. The gift giver wants their loved one to be happy, this is why they have put in the thought of gifting something personal to them.
Research has found that customized gifts strengthen relational bonds because they indicate that the giver truly "knows" the recipient.
We know from neuroscientific evidence that there is a positive emotional impact from gifting personalized gifts.
It activates the gift recipients brains reward systems, being the ventral striatum and prefrontal cortex. This then leads to the release of dopamine, which we all know if the ‘’feel-good’’ hormone.
Giving and receiving activate brain reward circuits as we can see from research published on Harvard Health Publising.
Real Data: The Emotional Impact of Personalized Gifts
A survey completed in 2023 by OnePoll for a gift giving platform found that 62% of participants said they felt more emotionally connected to an individual who gave them a personalized gift. This compared to just 27% of surveyed folk who received impersonal gifts.
Also, 74 % of people said that personalized items made them feel a lot happier and more appreciated.
With all the tech in the world – we humans are pure and simple social animals at our core. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.
Well for humans overall – the science detailing the effect on our emotional well beings from human connection is overwhelming.
It can be like oxygen for our souls and manna for our hearts.
Personalized Gifts in Healing
In the therapeutic world, personalized & tailored mementos are being used to help with healing, support, building self-worth and just making people feel good.
For regular everyday folk who have lost someone, the anniversaries like birthdays, Christmas etc. can be very hard.
People like to get personalized gifs which celebrate these people.
The underlying message is, gone but not forgotten. No Sir! Not by a long shot.
A gift which is personalized can just be a nice touch, a reminder of the live they lived, of their spirit.
The loved ones image can be brought to life on a canvas print etc. with a nice custom message.
They are a small sentiment of solace from gift giver but also joy, memory, celebration.
Mental Health America reported that small, considerate acts can help decrease levels of depression and anxiety, especially for the isolated.
Why It Matters to Givers Too
Gift givers get a lot out of giving personalized gifts, it is not just all benefit for the gift recipient.
One study in Psychological Science showed that gift givers who chose customized gifts felt happier and indeed more emotionally satisfied that those gift givers who provided impersonal / non-personalized gifts.
The gift givers with personalized gifts have a important hand in the gifting process. They know their loved one, know what will make them happy, pick the Photo / Message to be expressed on the gift.
They have to activate the emotional connection trigger thoughts in their own heads and so the emotional connection starts before the gift recipients receives the gift personalized.
Final Thoughts
At Cloncaia, we believe that personalized gifts are more than goods—they're emotional connections that boost mental well-being, strengthen relationships, and improve daily life. Backed by science and human nature, giving a personalized gift is one of the most powerful ways to make someone feel loved. Through it, both the recipient and giver experience happiness, connection, and improved emotional well-being—one thoughtful gift at a time.
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Author Bio:
Our team here at Cloncaia have years of experience in the personalized gifts industry. We love using our creativity, professionalism, craftmanship and forging ahead applying care into the gifts we make. Our design experts and craftsmen take their craft seriously and we combining elegant personalization with durable materials. Trusted by happy customers, we believe every gift should feel and make people happy.
support@cloncaia.com
Author: Roger J., Gift Personalization Expert at Cloncaia
Roger has over 4 years of experience crafting personalized gifts that capture meaningful moments. At Cloncaia, he helps customers design custom keepsakes that celebrate every kind of relationship.