Reciprocity (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what reciprocity is and why it is a value. Also, its meaning in anthropology and what the principle of reciprocity is.

What is reciprocity?

Reciprocity is correspondence in the treatment between two people or in the interaction between two objects. Relationships that meet this condition are called reciprocal, a word that comes from Latin reciprocatea term used to describe the back-and-forth movement of sea waters, whose movement over the sand is always equidistant: it comes and goes in the same measure.

When we say that something is reciprocal, we mean that it “comes and goes”: that offers the same to both parties or that corresponds in the right measure. For example, a reciprocal love is one in which both people are in love, and a reciprocal help is one in which both parties lend a hand to each other.

Many human relationships are based on reciprocity. or at least in the promise of it. This is what the proverb expresses “today for you, tomorrow for me”: sometimes by helping others we guarantee help when we need it in the future, so reciprocity does not necessarily imply the immediate return of the help received.

Reciprocity as a value

Reciprocity itself can be understood as a social valuethat is, as a desirable feature of our interpersonal relationships. This usually means that we should be generous, affectionate, or at least kind to those who are kind to us, which often involves maintaining a certain gratitude towards the rest of society.

It is normal for reciprocity to be understood as a measure of equity (that is, justice in treatment) and cooperation (that is, mutual help), although in a strict sense it only proposes giving of what we receive.

Reciprocity in psychology

In psychology, reciprocity is understood as the general tendency of human behavior to feel obligated to return a favor or a good received. If we don't do it, we feel guilty.

Reciprocity has been addressed by various branches of psychology.

evolutionary psychology (which studies the development of the mind from the point of view of the evolutionary history of the human species) has interpreted reciprocity as a response to the need for survival. According to this theory, helping others is driven by the expectation that providing help increases the likelihood of receiving help in the future and thus surviving in a hostile world.
Evolutionary or developmental psychology (focused on the study of the psychological changes of the person throughout their life) has established that reciprocity is a norm of behavior that develops in childhood and that affects the relationships that children establish with other peers. The way of understanding reciprocity changes over time: from behavior based on the “eye for an eye” principle it evolves to an attitude of mutual cooperative exchange.
social psychology (which studies the thoughts and behaviors of the person as a social being), considers reciprocity as a social norm that consists of responding to a positive action with another positive action, thus rewarding kind actions. People respond much more cordially and cooperatively to friendly actions than they would if they were acting solely out of self-interest.

Reciprocity in anthropology

reciprocity anthropology economics — Reciprocity occurs in informal economies that do not use money.

In cultural anthropology, reciprocity is linked to the functioning of informal economies. It consists of the non-commercial exchange of favors or goods. It includes practices ranging from direct barter to forms of gift exchange in which a return is expected.

If the exchange is immediate, as in barter, a social bond is not created. If, on the other hand, the exchange is delayed, a relationship arises based on the obligation to return the good or favor received (i.e., a debt). Failure to return can end a relationship between equals. Thus, some forms of reciprocity can establish a hierarchy. Reciprocal exchanges can also have political consequences, through the creation of multiple obligations that lead to the establishment of leadership.

Depending on the interests of the parties involved, three types of reciprocity are distinguished:

Generalized or positive reciprocity. The exchange is carried out without it being necessary to immediately receive compensation, or even without it ever being received, and the promise of return is sufficient. In this way, the obligation to correspond is infinite and lasting.
Balanced or symmetrical reciprocity. Immediate remuneration is based on some system of equivalence that guarantees receiving the same as what is given. In general, a deadline is established for remuneration, and in the exchange the social aspect has less weight and more room for individual and/or economic interests.
Negative reciprocity. In exchange, an attempt is made to obtain material benefits at the expense of the other, as in bartering, haggling, theft or fraud. In general, it occurs between people with a distant social relationship, who do not act altruistically, but rather with the objective of maximizing their own benefit.

Reciprocity and redistribution

In cultural anthropology and sociology studies, Reciprocity is associated with redistribution, and is often considered a form of it.. Redistribution is a system of economic exchange that involves the collection of goods and services from the members of a group to a central authority, which, in turn, distributes them among those members.

Unlike simple reciprocity, which is a back-and-forth exchange between the parties, redistribution consists of a pooling of goods. This determines a center (the authority that redistributes), while reciprocity establishes two parties, each with its own interests.

The most basic form of redistribution is the distribution of food within a family. However, redistribution also constitutes the basis of exchange of many communitiesorganized under the leadership of a political authority, which collects and redistributes the goods.

In industrial societies, redistribution is a central mechanism. Example of this are progressive income taxeswhich are collected from individuals based on their personal income. The money obtained in this way is later distributed to other members of society through various government programs.

Reciprocity and complementarity

Reciprocity as a system of economic exchange, when carried out within a community, is sometimes accompanied by the exercise of some type of complementarity. Complementarity is a consequence of the application of the principles of division of labor and comparative advantage in order to obtain better results.

While in reciprocity there is a mere exchange of goods or favors between members of the community, complementarity implies that each member or group within the community limits its intervention to activities in which it can make a significant contribution. For example, within an agricultural production system, one sector may be responsible for cultivation and another for the marketing of the products obtained.

In complementarity, the various members or groups depend on each other and carry out their activity with the agreement, usually implicit, that each one does their part. This way, can be understood as a form of communal reciprocityassociated with cooperative work.

The principle of reciprocity

In the field of international relations, it is known as the principle of reciprocity. a fundamental rule of treatment between Statesaccording to which each one undertakes to give the citizens of the other who reside in its territory similar treatment to that received by its citizens in the foreign territory.

In other words, Each State offers the other the same guarantees and the same treatment that it receives from it.: economically (for example, eliminating or imposing tariffs), legally (for example, establishing extradition agreements) or socially (for example, releasing or imposing visas and travel restrictions).

So, at least in theory, Agreements between States must be reciprocal at all timesto ensure that there are no injustices.

Examples of reciprocity

Children take care of their parents in old age, just as their parents took care of them when they were little.
A person does the tasks of a colleague who has not been able to go to work and who helped him with the purchase of his house.
One country exempts imports of raw materials from another country from taxes and this, in exchange, allows the free circulation of certain products from that country.
A father promises his son that if he passes an exam he will give him the object he so desires.
In response to nation A's attack on nation B, nation C suspends imports from nation A; Nation B, for its part, agrees to financially assist Nation C.
The society of the Inca Empire was organized into communities called ayllus, whose members provided mutual help in agricultural work, according to a principle of reciprocity, which required them to return the help provided.
The countries that make up the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) undertake to defend any member that is attacked by an external country.
Among the Iroquois the practice of reciprocity was widespread: one tribe gave another a gift with the expectation of receiving another in return.

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