People generally only engage in reciprocal generosity with others of equal or unknown status, but in relationships with different social statuses, generosity typically flows only one way, either up or down.

How this affects you

This research provides new insights into social interactions, suggesting that keeping track of whose turn it is for a favor is an exception for maintaining equal relationships, rather than a universal rule. It challenges previous behavioral economics studies by highlighting the significant role of social context in expectations of generosity.