What Is The Foot-In-The-Door Method?

The Foot-in-the-door method is a technique in which an individual makes small requests leading to a much larger request, in order to have a better chance of the larger request being accepted. The initial compliance of the requests is a result of individuals wanting to “feel that they are helpful and care about other people” and “an individual is committed to complying with a later request in order to act consistently” (Guéguen, Martin, Silone, & David, 2015, p. 2). The phenomenon of the Foot-in-the-door technique is a highly studied notion that we can see throughout the world such as in an experiment in the article “Foot-in-the-door technique and reduction of driver’s aggressiveness: A field study,” in mass media such as in the show The Big

Specifically the episode “The Pancake Batter Anomaly” is an ideal example for the foot-in-the-door strategy. Sheldon, one of the show’s main characters has become seriously ill. In attempt to avoid taking care of Sheldon in one of his most irritating states, all of his friends make plans that will help them escape Sheldon’s annoying behavior. This leaves their neighbor Penny, who is unaware of how annoying Sheldon can be when he is sick, to take care of him. In order to get Penny to do what he says, Sheldon starts by asking Penny for small requests such as tucking him in. However, these requests get larger and more absurd as Penny complies with them. These requests get to the point where Penny must rub vapor-rub on Sheldon’s chest while singing his favorite childhood song. This is the perfect example for the foot-in-the-door technique because, this phenomenon deals with individuals asking for small favors in order to eventually ask for a much larger favor. Similarly, Sheldon asks Penny for small favors until the end, where gets her to do something that she probably would not have done if Sheldon had first asked her to rub vapor-rub on his chest while singing the

In Guéguen, Martin, Silone, and David’s study we saw that the use of the Foot-in-the-door technique can also be used in order to impact someone’s reaction and for them to act in a less harsh manner and not display a negative reaction to having to comply with someone’s request or predicament such as the one in the experiment where the driver’s would have to wait at the green light for a another driver who seemed confined. In the episode of The Big Bang Theory, we saw that Sheldon was able to get Penny to comply to his completely absurd request of rubbing vapor rub on his chest while singing his favorite childhood song. Similarly, I was also able to convince my mother to go on a vacation with me to India. In all these situations, there were small requests that were first initiated that enabled the desired result. From the mini vacations in my situation, to Sheldon asking Penny to tuck him in in The Big Bang Theory, the small favors asked enabled the larger favor to be complied with, which makes up the phenomenon of the Foot-in-the-door