What category does Reciprocity Principle belong to?

Reciprocity Principle belongs to the "Principles" category in personal knowledge management and productivity.

What are the key topics related to Reciprocity Principle?

Key topics related to Reciprocity Principle include: reciprocity, influence, psychology, relationships, social-norms.

Reciprocity Principle

Q: What are alternative names for Reciprocity Principle?

Reciprocity Principle is also known as: Principle of reciprocation, Give and receive, Mutual exchange principle.

The social norm of responding to positive actions with positive actions in return.

Also known as: Principle of reciprocation, Give and receive, Mutual exchange principle

Category: Principles

Tags: reciprocity, influence, psychology, relationships, social-norms

Explanation

The reciprocity principle is a fundamental social norm where people respond to positive actions with other positive actions, creating cycles of mutual benefit. Robert Cialdini identified reciprocity as one of the six key principles of influence. The principle operates automatically and powerfully: when someone does something for us, we feel compelled to return the favor. This isn't just politeness but a deep evolutionary adaptation that enabled human cooperation and social cohesion. In practice, reciprocity creates: social bonds (mutual exchange builds trust), influence opportunities (giving creates obligation), and sustainable relationships (balanced exchange over time). The principle can be applied positively (generosity that builds genuine relationships) or manipulatively (small gifts creating pressure for larger returns). For knowledge workers, understanding reciprocity means: giving value first without expectation, building relationship capital through generous contribution, and recognizing when others are using reciprocity for manipulation.

Related Concepts

← Back to all concepts