Dr. Robert Cialdini's Seven Principles of Persuasion | IAW (2024)

The First Universal Principle of Influence is Reciprocity

Simply put, people are obliged to give back to others the form of a behavior, gift, or service that they have received first.

If a friend invites you to their party, there’s an obligation for you to invite them to a future party you are hosting. If a colleague does you a favor, then you owe that colleague a favor. And in the context of a social obligation people are more likely to say yes to those who they owe.

One of the best demonstrations of the Principle of Reciprocity comes from a series of studies conducted in restaurants. So the last time you visited a restaurant, there’s a good chance that the waiter or waitress will have given you a gift. Probably about the same time that they bring your bill. A liqueur, perhaps, or a fortune cookie, or perhaps a simple mint.

So here’s the question. Does the giving of a mint have any influence over how much tip you’re going to leave them? Most people will say no. But that mint can make a surprising difference. In the study, giving diners a single mint at the end of their meal typically increased tips by around 3%.

Interestingly, if the gift is doubled and two mints are provided, tips don’t double. They quadruple—a 14% increase in tips. But perhaps most interesting of all is the fact that if the waiter provides one mint, starts to walk away from the table, but pauses, turns back and says, “For you nice people, here’s an extra mint,” tips go through the roof. A 23% increase, influenced not by what was given, but how it was given.

So the key to using the Principle of Reciprocity is to be the first to give and to ensure that what you give is personalized and unexpected.

Dr. Robert Cialdini's Seven Principles of Persuasion | IAW (2024)

FAQs

What are the 7 principles of persuasion by Robert Cialdini? ›

Also known as Cialdini's 7 Principles of Influence, the principles are reciprocity, commitment or consistency, consensus or social proof, authority, liking, scarcity, and unity. Humans are social creatures. We like to live in communities. We have friends, families, and loved ones.

What is Cialdini's persuasion summary? ›

Cialdini's 6 Principles of Persuasion are reciprocity, scarcity, authority, commitment and consistency, liking and consensus. By understanding these rules, you can use them to persuade and influence others. Of course, doing so isn't always an ethical thing to do.

What are the 7 influences of Cialdini? ›

Cialdini Principles: scarcity, authority, social proof, sympathy, reciprocity, consistency and unity form Dr. Robert Cialdini's 7 influencing techniques. You have a website that gets traffic, but you're not getting enough results from it.

What are the 7 steps of influence? ›

Robert Cialdini's principles of influence
  • Reciprocity: People dislike feeling indebted. ...
  • Commitment: People require consistency. ...
  • Social Proof: People do what they observe others doing. ...
  • Authority: People trust authority. ...
  • Liking: People prefer similarities. ...
  • Scarcity: Less quantity equals more demand. ...
  • Unity: Us and them.

What is the psychology of persuasion Robert Cialdini summary? ›

Brief summary

Cialdini is a psychology book that explores why people say "yes" and how to influence them ethically. It unveils six principles of influence, and how to defend against them.

What is the golden rule of persuasion? ›

The golden rule for being persuasive is straightforward: The golden rule of persuasion is to lay the groundwork; never suggest anything to anyone who isn't ready to comply — yet.

What is social proof theory by Robert Cialdini? ›

Social proof (or informational social influence) is a psychological and social phenomenon wherein people copy the actions of others in choosing how to behave in a given situation. The term was coined by Robert Cialdini in his 1984 book Influence: Science and Practice.

Which of Cialdini's principles of influence involves repaying? ›

The First Universal Principle of Influence is Reciprocity

If a colleague does you a favor, then you owe that colleague a favor. And in the context of a social obligation people are more likely to say yes to those who they owe.

What is the principle of liking Cialdini? ›

5. Liking. People are easily persuaded by other people that they like (Cialdini calls this liking, but it is basically just the affect heuristic talked about previously). People were more likely to buy Tupperware if they liked the person selling it to them.

What is Cialdini known for? ›

Cialdini is known globally as the foundational expert in the science of influence and how to apply it ethically in business. His Seven Principles of Persuasion have become a cornerstone for any organization serious about effectively increasing their influence.

What are the lessons of influence by Robert Cialdini? ›

Cialdini presents six universal principles of influence: reciprocity, scarcity, authority, consistency, liking, and social proof. Through real-life examples and psychological research, he shows how these principles can be harnessed ethically or exploited unethically for personal gain.

What is the social influence theory by Robert Cialdini? ›

Social Influence Theory. Robert Cialdini's book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion discusses the importance of social influence in a person's daily life. Cialdini defines socialization as the process whereby an individual takes on the appropriate customs and beliefs of their society or culture.

What are the 7 factors of influence? ›

7 elements of influence that everyone should know
  • Reciprocity. This is one of the most powerful elements of influence and is so heavily ingrained into our culture that we learn it from the earliest age and adhere to it our whole lives. ...
  • Commitment & Consistency. ...
  • Social Proof. ...
  • Liking. ...
  • Authority. ...
  • Scarcity. ...
  • Contrast.
Sep 29, 2015

What are the 7 areas of influence? ›

He describes seven culture-shaping areas of influence over each society—media, government, education, economy, family, religion, and celebration (arts and entertainment)—that are the keys to taking a nation for the kingdom of God.

What are the six fundamental principles identified in Cialdini 2014? ›

Social psychologist Robert Cialdini has identified six principles of persuasion: scarcity, authority, consistency, reciprocity, consensus, and liking. In this post, we'll give you examples of Cialdini's principles of persuasion, as well as a quick classroom exercise to help you prepare for your lecture.

What are the 14.2 principles of persuasion? ›

To summarize, a persuasive message can succeed through the principles of reciprocity, scarcity, authority, commitment and consistency, consensus, and liking.

What are the six principles of influence by Cialdini? ›

Cialdini's Six Principles of Influence are reciprocity, scarcity, authority, commitment, liking and consensus.

What is the unity principle of Cialdini? ›

With Unity, Cialdini is referring to a shared identity that both the influencer and influencee are part of. The more we perceive people are part of “us,” the more likely we are to be influenced by them.

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