Changes in self and interpersonal relationships over time: A study of important gifts from gift-recipients' perspectives

This paper examines the impact of gift-recipients' self and identity changes on the meanings of the important gifts that they received a long time ago; and the strategies they employ when dealing with these changes in the context of their "existing ongoing" and "disconnected" relationships. This paper addresses the research gap in our understanding of how changes in interpersonal relationships with the gift-givers are incorporated into the changing meanings associated with the gifts over time. Our findings expand upon the existing gift-giving research by examining how old gifts signify different aspects of changes to the self in life transitions within consumers' identity projects.