Reciprocity Principle Within Mutual Aid Relations

Abstract

The paper considers the analysis of reciprocity principle in reproduction of social relations and functioning of mutual aid practices within local communities. The reciprocity is considered as the principle of interpersonal and social relations implying clear and latent mutual obligations among participants. The study covers the empirical diagnostics of such parameters as family, friends, neighbors, and professional networks of mutual aid as intensity and regularity of functioning and orientation of resource transfer (receiving/rendering), nature of reciprocity of obligations, motivation of resource interchange. It is shown that children characterize the resource interchange with parents and adults by the highest degree of intensity. At the same time, the majority of participants of such exchanges do not rely on the equivalent volume of reciprocal services, and these interactions are generalized and reciprocal. Towards “weak” links (with neighbors, fellow workers, acquaintances) there is a focus on balanced reciprocity: when receiving help, from 50% to 57% of respondents count on equivalent return. In motivating the mutual aid, the balanced reciprocity is most obviously expressed in professional and neighbor networks of mutual aid. In relations with friends, it is counterbalanced with emotional, valuable and existential motives, which are dominating in family relations. The regulatory importance of the reciprocity principle and its backbone character in various types of networks of mutual aid is justified. At the same time, it is confirmed that the reciprocity in family relations, first of all, has emotional, psychological and valuable background, while in other networks of mutual aid the balanced nature of resource interchange serves a condition of their stability..