Have you been a victim of the foot in the door influence technique? People are unknowingly subject to this form of influence every day by friends, family and the like. I am going to describe what it looks like and why it works so that you (and I) will never fall for it again.
What it looks like
Guy: Come on baby just one kiss. What’s a little kiss going to hurt. Just one kiss and I’ll go home, I promise
Girl: OK. I guess one kiss won’t hurt any…
(half an hour later)
Girl: (inner thoughts) I can’t believe I just did that. How did I end up having sex with him.
Guy: Baby I got to go now. I’ll call you some time…
Technique
Ask for something small, once the other person agrees ask for something a little bigger. If they resist remind them of the small thing they have previously done and the new request is a small step further. Continue until you achieve your final goal.
Why it works
Once a person comply with a request, their self image is slightly altered as someone who would do X. Because of the new self image, they will also comply with anything a person would do if they have already done X. We have a tendency to be consistent with our past behaviors to make us who we are. If we are not consistent we will be viewed publicly as hypocritical and no one wants to be a hypocrite.
Another example
Girl: Would you say that you like me?
Guy: Of course I like you.
Girl: A Lot?
Guy: a lot, a lot.
Girl: how much?
Guy: I like you more than what can be measured in a life time.
Girl: Wow if you like me that much it kinda means you love me
Guy: Uh… um… yea… I love you.
Girl: You have made me the happiest girl in the world!
Guy: (inner thought) What the f*ck just happened???
Oh, before I forget, please comment. I'd like to know your thoughts.
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4 responses so far ↓
1 Chantal // Mar 17, 2008 at 7:55 pm
LMAO.. You are a little bias there, buddy. You can’t speak from a female’s point of view. Some females think that it is all right for them to have sex and keep that ish moving. Why does it have to be the girl being sensitive? LOL I am just saying though.
However, you are right. Guys do have an effect on females, sadly. But I believe it is the same way. Because if a guy is trying to buy a girl’s love by getting her whatever then he will do anything for her.
2 rey // Mar 20, 2008 at 6:32 am
i was just using stereotypical examples so that people could see my point… I’m not trying to say that all women overly emotional and that guys aren’t…
i guess i should have used examples that dont include male/female interaction…
3 Sara // Jun 18, 2008 at 12:59 pm
I just took a negotiation class and learned about the foot in the door technique (also the door in the face technique!) but I never considered that it could be applied this way…which is very interesting. It kind of sets up one of the people to be a “victim” as you point out in the conclusionary thoughts of “oh no what just happened” on both the male/female end of things…but I don’t think that in a business negotiation there is the same “victim” feeling.
I think perhaps in this instance, it’s more akin to getting tricked than a negotiation strategy, or maybe like the person pushing…if I can get so and so to give x, then they’ll go the next step and give y…and next thing you know you’ve got guys proposing and baby mamas…and we wonder about teen mothers and why the divorce rate is 60%!!
4 rey // Jun 18, 2008 at 1:15 pm
that is so true… i actually took a negotiation class too last semester… i just wanted to see what other aspects of life it can be assigned to, besides business
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