Reciprocity
There was a function that I wasn't keen on going to at all. The moment I learnt that the hosts had taken time to come to one of our functions I found myself motivated to go.
If someone does us a favor we must do something for them in return
It seems to me that reciprocity 1 is built in to most cultures. Reciprocity can be used to persuade others.
What's interesting about that story is that I wasn't forcing myself to go to the function, I wanted to go!
This is the power of reciprocity.
So how does it work and how can we use it in our lives?
One way I've seen this used in the world is called the reject then retreat method.
First, make a demand that's higher than what you want. Then, make a concession by stating something closer to what you want.
The reason this works is because you can make someone feel indebted to you by doing something for them first. So when you make a concession, it is as if you are conceding and thus inviting reciprocity from the other party.
But there are two caveats to this that I don't see talked about.
You must have rapport with the other person and you must use this only if your offer is good for both of you. People can sense when they are being manipulated and if they sense that you are using this trick to manipulate them, they will not like being around you.