{"doi":"10.2307/2092623","title":"The Norm of Reciprocity: A Preliminary Statement","abstract":"The manner in which the concept of reciprocity is implicated in functional theory is explored, enabling a reanalysis of the concepts of survival and exploitation. The need to distinguish between the concepts of complementarity and reciprocity is stressed. Distinctions are also drawn between (1) reciprocity as a pattern of mutually contingent exchange of gratifications, (2) the existential or folk belief in reciprocity, and (3) the generalized moral norm of reciprocity. Reciprocity as a moral norm is analyzed; it is hypothesized that it is one of the universal principal components of moral codes. As Westermarck states, To requite a benefit, or to be grateful to him who bestows it, is probably everywhere, at least under certain circumstances, regarded as a duty. This is a subject which in the present connection calls for special consideration. Ways in which the norm of reciprocity is implicated in the maintenance of stable social systems are examined.","journal":"American Sociological Review","year":1960,"id":7315,"datarank":19.710512143525488,"base_score":9.369649154461065,"endowment":9.369649154461065,"self_citation_contribution":1.40544737316916,"citation_network_contribution":18.305064770356328,"self_endowment_contribution":1.40544737316916,"citer_contribution":18.305064770356328,"corpus_percentile":94.7,"corpus_rank":1145,"citation_count":11726,"citer_count":200,"citers_with_citation_signal":200,"citers_with_endowment":200,"datacite_reuse_total":0,"is_dataset":false,"is_oa":false,"file_count":0,"downloads":0,"has_version_chain":false,"published_date":"1960-04-01","authors":[{"id":65696,"name":"Alvin W. Gouldner","orcid":null,"position":0,"is_corresponding":true}],"reference_count":1,"raw_metadata":{"citation_network_status":"fetched"},"created_at":"2026-03-01T18:20:47.508186Z","pmid":null,"pmcid":null,"fwci":null,"citation_percentile":null,"influential_citations":0,"oa_status":null,"license":null,"views":0,"total_file_size_bytes":0,"version_count":0,"clinical_trials":[],"software_tools":[],"db_accessions":[],"linked_datasets":[],"topics":[]}