A study reported by MIT News and summarized by Phys.org finds that whether people expect generosity to be reciprocated depends on the social relationship involved. Researchers note that in everyday situations—such as a friend buying coffee—reciprocal giving is commonly expected and has been described in behavioral economics research. However, the study and related commentary emphasize that longstanding insights from anthropology and other social sciences indicate that reciprocity often looks different when power, status, or influence are unequal. The new findings suggest that people mainly expect reciprocal generosity when interacting with friends or others of roughly equal social standing. In contrast, when the relationship is marked by hierarchy—where one person is perceived as having greater authority, prestige, or leverage—reciprocity is less likely to be the expected norm. Taken together, the sources describe reciprocity not as a universal rule, but as a social expectation shaped by how people view equality and the balance of power within a relationship.