Subjective Valuation Matrix: A New Geometric Framework for Asymmetric Value Perception

The exchange of favors is one of the most common manifestations of social altruism and a common dynamic in human relationships. It involves a transfer of value that is not usually made explicit, which can lead to discrepant perceptual valuations between the giver and the receiver of the favor. Attempts to formally analyze these dynamics are hindered by the subjective and unexpressed nature of the value and debt expectations that arise, as well as by their not always monetary nature. This article introduces the theoretical proposal of a new conceptual analytical framework, the Subjective Valuation Matrix (SVM), based on a geometric-spatial representation designed to make these dynamics visible.The SVM builds the valuation of a favor on two fundamental dimensions: the sacrifice it entails for the giver and the benefit it provides to the receiver. On this basis, the model incorporates the formalization of known perceptual biases, being able to show a representation of the distorted subjective evaluative space of each actor. By overlaying both representations—giver and receiver—the perceptual distance between them becomes visible, and the areas of the evaluative space where latent conflict is most likely can be identified.The SVM offers a tool to visualize the effect of these perceptual biases and provides an analytical method with quantifying potential that allows the identification of the precursory causes of conflict in the context of favor exchange, but with capability to extend to any other dynamic of non-explicit value exchange.