Strangers will be more likely to answer your personal questions if you type them up on your university's letterhead stationery than if you simply ask them verbally. This illustrates that people are more obedient when

Question

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This scenario is an example of people being more obedient when they perceive that there is institutional authority behind a request. The use of university letterhead stationery implies an official request from an institution, which may make people more likely to comply with the request.

Strangers Will Be More Likely to Answer Your Personal Questions