Chapter 5 - The concept of reciprocity: origins and key elements

Abstract

Over the next two Chapters, I aim to demonstrate that the concept of reciprocity provides a plausible grounding for relational autonomy, a conception of autonomy that will need to be respected by researchers when disclosing information to participants during the consent process. More importantly, I argue that such reciprocity-based relational autonomy is the most fitting conception of autonomy in light of the many complex, ongoing, and multilateral relationships established by population biobank projects. In order to do so, I must first introduce the concept of reciprocity and its features. This will be the aim of this chapter. I begin by presenting key elements of the concept of reciprocity, namely the importance of having donors and recipients who undertake reciprocal exchanges with each other. I present these elements first because, regardless of the specific conception of reciprocity under examination, the presence of a donor and a recipient is a universally accepted condition. I will thereafter introduce two distinct conceptions of reciprocity: reciprocity for mutual benefit and reciprocity for mutual respect. For both of these conceptions, I will examine the criteria necessary for a reciprocal exchange to be categorized as one or the other. Finally, this chapter will assess the different characteristics of reciprocal exchange that are at the heart of the concept of reciprocity (see Table 5.1). I will do so by examining the nature of the reciprocal exchanges (whether they are individual or communal), the two major scopes of reciprocal exchanges (generalized and nonspecialized), the flow of the exchange (seriate or negotiated), and the value bestowed in the exchange (instrumental or symbolic). By understanding these different characteristics of the reciprocal exchange, I will be able to sketch out a theoretical basis on which the concept of reciprocity can be applied in the population biobank setting. This will be the work of Chapter 6.