The propriety of reciprocity

Balance reciprocity results from the urge or desire to reciprocate the gift or favour with a return gift or favour that has a certain relation of equality with the former, and, in some sense, matches or compensates it. The balance sometimes takes the form of pure tit-for-tat reciprocation; in limiting cases, the reaction can be instinctive or almost so, with no conscious motive. However, the answer is more often conscious and weighed, sometimes carefully. Then, the action is pushed by a sense of propriety or duty, rather than directly pulled by desire – although one can always consider a desire to restore a balance, and even speak trivially of a desire to act properly or to do one's duty. The balance-reciprocal action is “deontic” rather than “consequentialist” – although this motive induces one to want consequences of one's act, namely the resulting balance and even, one can say, to have behaved properly or morally, and it is often also supported by a desire for social approval (or non-disapproval). At any rate, the motives for balance reciprocity are thoroughly different from those of other reciprocities: they have nothing to do either with liking or – consciously – with seeking interest (although they can be associated with some motives of these types to some extent and in various ways). These other motives for reciprocity are consequences of other sentiments or desires – liking and interest.