- Entry
- Reader's guide
- Entries A-Z
- Subject index
Foot-In-The-Door Technique
Definition
The foot-in-the-door is an influence technique based on the following idea: If you want someone to do a large favor for you, get him or her to do a small favor first. The power of the foot-in-the-door stems from its ability to start with a small, innocuous request and move on to a large, onerous request.
Evidence
In one of the first scientific tests of the foot-in-thedoor, psychologists Jonathan L. Freedman and Scott C. Fraser began with a very small request: They had a researcher go door to door in the California suburb of Palo Alto and ask homeowners to put a small sign in their windows that said “Be a safe driver.” Why would anyone say no to such an innocuous request? After all, who's against ...
196464
- Loading...
