Marcel Mauss

Marcel Mauss was a French sociologist and anthropologist best known for his work on the concept of social exchange. He explored how societies create bonds through practices like gift-giving, emphasizing that giving, receiving, and reciprocating are fundamental to social relationships and maintaining social cohesion. His influential essay, "The Gift," highlights that gift exchanges are not just economic transactions but complex social acts that reinforce community and mutual obligations. Mauss’s ideas help us understand how cultural practices shape social bonds beyond mere economics, emphasizing the importance of relationships, obligations, and reciprocity in human societies.