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Compliance is a type of social influence where an individual does what someone else wants them to do, following his or her request or suggestion. It is similar toobedience, but there is no order – only a request.
(Kassin, Fein, & Markus, 2011, p. 271)
Foot in the Door Technique
The foot-in-the-door technique is a compliance tactic that assumes agreeing to a small request increases the likelihood of agreeing to a second, larger request.
So, initially, you make a small request, and once the person agrees to this, they find it more difficult to refuse a bigger one (Freedman & Fraser, 1966).
For example, imagine one of your friends missed the last psychology class and asked to borrow your notes. This is a small request that seems reasonable, so you lend the notes to your friend.
A week later, the same friend asks to borrow all of your psychology notes. This is a large request – would you agree or not?
The foot-in-the-door phenomenon works on the principle ofconsistency. People prefer not to contradict themselves in both actions and beliefs. This means that as long as the request is consistent with or similar in nature to the original small request, the technique will work (Petrova et al., 2007).
Sherman (1980) called residents in Indiana (USA) and asked them if, hypothetically, they would volunteer to spend 3 hours collecting for the American Cancer Society.
Three days later, a second experimenter called the same people and actually requested help for this organization. Of those responding to the earlier request, 31% agreed to help. This is much higher than the 4% of a similar group of people who volunteered to help when approached directly.
Door-in-the-Face Technique
This technique achieves compliance as refusing a large request increases the likelihood of agreeing to a second, smaller request.
Initially, you make a big request that a person can be expected to refuse. Then you make a smaller request that the person finds difficult to refuse because they feel they shouldn’t always say NO!
For example, negotiating a pay rise with your boss. First, you make a request that will not be met and ask for 20%. When this is refused, you make a more realistic request and ask for 10%.
Cialdini (1975) asked participants if they would escort a group of young criminals to the zoo; most refused (control group). In the control group, 2 participants were approached and asked to spend 2 hours per week as a peer counsellor to young criminals for around two years; again, most said no.
However, in the experimental condition, participants were asked to be peer counselors, and then the request was downgraded to escort children to the zoo (the target request). 50% agreed to the request.
It has been found the door-in-the-face technique produces high levels of compliance only when the same person makes the request and the requests are similar in nature.
This technique works due to the principle ofreciprocity(Cialdini et al., 1975). Saying “no” to a large request may make the person feel they owe the other person who made the request a favor.
Low-Ball Technique
The low-balling technique is a compliance method in which the persuader gets a person to commit to a low-ball offer they have no intention of keeping; then, the price is suddenly increased.
Since a person has already committed, it is hard to say no to the new higher price demand.
For example, when buying a car, the salesman agrees on a price but must “check” with his manager if this is acceptable. While waiting, you think you have secured a good deal. The salesman returns and says the manager would not agree to the deal, and the price is raised. Most people agree with the higher price.
Cialdini (1978) asked students whether they would participate in a psychology experiment that started at 7 am andmost participants refused (control group).
In an experimental condition, Cialdini asked participants whether they would participate in a psychology experiment, and even though they weren’t told a time, most participants agreed.
Later they were told that it started at 7 am and given the chance to drop out if they wanted. On the day of theexperiment 95% turned up.
The success of this technique works on the principle ofcommitment. Because the person has said “yes” or agreed to an initial request, commitment has been given.
When the request changes or becomes unreasonable, the person will (to a degree) find it difficult to say “no” because of having originally committed themselves.
Learning Check
Which of the following is the best example of the foot-in-the-door persuasion technique?
AnswerThe correct answer is1). The foot-in-the-door technique involves making a small request that someone is likely to agree to, and then later following up with a larger request. In this example, the salesperson first asks to leave a sign (a small request), and then later asks to host a product demonstration (a larger request).
References
Breckler, S. J., Olson, J. M., & Wiggins, E. C. (2006).Social Psychology Alive. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
Cialdini, R. B., Cacioppo, J. T., Bassett, R., & Miller, J. A. (1978).Low-ball procedure for producing compliance: commitment then cost.Journal of personality and Social Psychology, 36(5), 463.
Freedman, J. L., & Fraser, S. C. (1966). Compliance without pressure: the foot-in-the-door technique.Journal of personality and social psychology,4(2), 195.
Kassin, S. M., Fein, S., & Markus, H. R. (2011).Social Psychology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth – Cengage Learning.
Petrova, P. K., Cialdini, R. B., & Sills, S. J. (2007).Consistency-based compliance across cultures.Journal of Experimental Social Psychology,43(1), 104-111.
Sherman, S. J. (1980). On the self-erasing nature of errors of prediction.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39(2), 211-221.
Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
Saul McLeod, PhD
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
