Rule Enforcement

1
Rule Enforcement Without Visible
Means
Christmas Gift Giving in Middletown
Theodore Caplow
2
Contents
Rules
Other things

• The Tree Rule
• The Wrapping Rule
• The Gift Selection Rules
• The Reciprocity Rule

-My understanding -Questions -Bibliography
3
No Children - No Tree!
There is a norm in Middletown that requires
married couples with children to put up a
Christmas tree
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The Wrapping Rule
Christmas gifts must be wrapped before they are
presented.
This is the rule that is obeyed almost by everyone
Picture taking at Christmas gatherings is clearly
a part of the ritual, and wrapped gifts are a
part of picture taking
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Gift Selection
What is it for?

• To demonstrate givers familiarity with the
  receiver's preferences
• Surprise the receiver
• To show the relationship

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Reciprocity Rule
How many presents to give and to get
From To

• Grandparents
• Husbands
• -Children
• -Wives
• -Partners

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• What did I learned from it?
• The are rules almost for everything but we do
  not really realize it
• Breaking the rule is not a good thing to do even
  if this rule is not obvious
• Gifts are not only things that we buy for others
  but also a sing that shows our perception of
  someone

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Questions

• What techniques were used to get information for
  the article? What else could be used?

9
Think about your birthday, what rules do you
think are important for this day?
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for your attention