A neighbor comes to your door and asks you to feed his dogs, water his plants, and mow his yard while he is out of town for a month. Feeling only slightly guilty, you turn down this large request. Then, the same neighbor returns the next day and asks if you would at least pick up his mail while he is gone. Chances are very good that you will honor this smaller request because of which compliance approach?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario described is an example of the "door-in-the-face" effect, where a large, likely-to-be-refused request is followed by a smaller, more reasonable request. This makes the second request seem more manageable in comparison, increasing the likelihood of compliance.

A Neighbor Comes to Your Door and Asks You to Feed