One major missing factor is that good. Gifts are evidence that someone thinks about you a lot. This in turn is strong. Evidence that they like you a lot and will be there to help you if you need it.
Of course people don’t notice all the reasons they have positive emotional associations with gifts they don’t get with money.
I think one major mistake here is assuming that there’s one answer. I think it’s a combination of many of the things you identify and the comments add.
One major missing factor is that good. Gifts are evidence that someone thinks about you a lot. This in turn is strong. Evidence that they like you a lot and will be there to help you if you need it.
Of course people don’t notice all the reasons they have positive emotional associations with gifts they don’t get with money.
I think one major mistake here is assuming that there’s one answer. I think it’s a combination of many of the things you identify and the comments add.