"We can think of two basic psychological factors at play when it comes to gift giving. On one hand, giving to others does make the 'giver' feel good—and this fact is largely rooted in our evolved psychology. Humans have evolved to form close bonds with others with strong (if implicit) norms regarding reciprocity. So when you give someone whom you love a gift, it helps you feel good partly because this act unconsciously informs you that an important social connection is being cultivated—and that you might get something good in return!" Dr. Geher, from the State University of New York at New Paltz, explained to Bored Panda in an email.

"Put simply, gift-giving feels good partly because humans thrive on strong, authentic, and often-loving social connections," he said.

According to Dr. Geher, human beings, just like many animals, evolved to present themselves in a positive way to others, especially to their mates or potential mates.

"From this perspective, conspicuous gift-giving (like surprising a mate with an Audi sitting in the driveway—adorned with a large red bow) partly evolved for show-related purposes. In fact, behavioral scientists often use the term 'costly signaling' for such acts. Conspicuous giving seems to be much more about telling the world about oneself rather than solidifying a bond or showing a partner or friend that you really care," the psychology professor told us.

"This is partly why my amazing wife might not find an Audi with a bow on the driveway this Valentine’s Day (but, of course, anything’s possible!)."

Humor and playfulness can be found in many relationships. However, we were interested in finding out whether relationships can be healthy without these two factors. Dr. Geher shed some light on this.

"Healthy relationships have various foundational elements. Love and trust, for instance, are certainly in the mix. That said, creativity, often accompanied by humor, is a major player when it comes to all stages of intimate relationships—from initial attraction all the way to maintaining a truly loving relationship," the professor told Bored Panda.

"We tend to like creative and funny people. And creating with one’s partner is a wonderful way to maintain a loving bond," he said. He gave some examples of this, such as collaborating on paintings and writing songs together.

"Without creativity and humor, I suppose a relationship might not necessarily fail, but, on the flip side, the most loving of relationships often include healthy doses of creativity and humor. My wife Shannon and I make a point to create art—in some form or another—together every single day—and I have to say that I wouldn’t trade that part of our relationship for anything," Dr. Geher opened up to us.

Many of us feel at least some pressure to do something special for Valentine’s Day. Even if it is a made-up materialistic holiday meant to sell cards and merch, it still feels nice that there’s a specific day of the year that’s (supposedly) all about love. It might be a bit cheesy. It might be cliché.

But if you’re open to the possibility of February 14 surprising you, you can enjoy it quite a bit… even if you do it semi-ironically.

Whether you’re all for or utterly against Valentine’s Day as a concept, gift-giving can be a very powerful way to make someone’s day. On top of that, it’s almost a surefire way to boost your own mood. Human beings are hardwired to be social and generous (to a certain extent).

Research shows that when we give someone a gift, we also feel good. The best part? It doesn’t have to be something super luxurious or unique. It’s the act of giving, not the gift itself or the price tag, that makes us happy.

Psychology professor Elizabeth Dunn, Ph.D., from the University of British Columbia, told ‘Today’ that it’s people’s ability to work together and help each other that has allowed us to survive as a species. “We have evolved to actually experience joy from giving to others,” she said.

According to research conducted by Dunn and others, people who spend more on others rather than themselves are generally reported to be happier. The actual amount of money spent didn’t matter.

This is great news for anyone who’s minding a tight budget or who’s wondering whether they should treat themselves or their loved ones. As a rule of thumb, we’re better off being generous than self-centered.

In our experience, the things that help keep long-term relationships healthy and strong are immeasurable and sometimes overlooked. Playfulness. Humor. Joy. Teasing. Wit. All of these things show that you’re energetic, have a zest for life, and love to spread happiness. If you can share these silly and goofy aspects with your partner without judgment on their part, you’ve got something truly special.

Aside from being generous and embracing comedy this Valentine’s Day, you should also consider what expectations you have for February 14.

It’s a very good thing to have high standards, want the best out of life, and be optimistic about your future. However, all of this has to be somewhat grounded in reality. Otherwise, you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment.

If you have sky-high expectations of riding horses, dancing in fancy ballrooms, and dining at a castle, but you end up treated to a home-cooked dinner, you might end up disappointed. Even if the date was objectively heartfelt and meaningful, the reality of what happened would completely miss your incredibly high expectations. So it helps if we ground ourselves

We don’t need ‘perfection’ because it does not exist outside of our daydreams. It’s far healthier to embrace fun, authenticity, and imperfect romance.

Another thing to keep in mind as February 14 inevitably races toward us is why you may be thinking of going all out on the celebration in terms of luxury and romance. Really be honest with yourself about whom you’re doing this for.

Is it because you know your partner loves over-the-top gifts and sincerely enjoys getting a dozen red roses? Is it because you want to create a certain impression about yourself? Or is it because you know your friends and coworkers are doing something special, and you want to ‘keep up with the Joneses’?

The reality is that many people highly value their reputation. They want to be respected, loved, and looked up to by their peers and members of their community. It’s an intrinsic need for most of us.

It encourages us to connect with other people and deepen our ties. However, when taken too far, it might mean that someone gives up their personal beliefs to fit in with the crowd. 

Someone who feels pressured to conform might copy their social circle’s Valentine’s Day plans (roses, moonlit chariot rides in the park, candlelit dinners, what have you…) because they don’t want to stand out. Ironically, people respect authenticity much more than conformity.

So, if you enjoy humor and frown on luxurious gifts, it’s best to follow your gut instead of worrying that someone might criticize you for not doing ‘enough’ for Valentine’s Day.

We would absolutely love to hear all about your Valentine’s Day plans, Pandas. How do you usually celebrate? What do you have in mind for this year? What’s the silliest gift you’ve ever given or gotten? Tell us all about it in the comments!

In the meantime, for some more hilarious and witty February 14 gifts and cards, scroll through Bored Panda’s previous articles.