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With the "Benjamin Franklin Effect" you become more likeable

2022-08-10T13:20:36.586Z


With the "Benjamin Franklin Effect" you become more likeable Created: 08/10/2022 15:14 By: Carina Blumenroth You can use the "Benjamin Franklin Effect" to get people to like you. (Iconic image) © Lisa F. Young/Imago The "Benjamin Franklin Effect" is a psychological trick that makes you appear more likeable to other people. It is not clear what factors this is based on. No one likes to be seen


With the "Benjamin Franklin Effect" you become more likeable

Created: 08/10/2022 15:14

By: Carina Blumenroth

You can use the "Benjamin Franklin Effect" to get people to like you.

(Iconic image) © Lisa F. Young/Imago

The "Benjamin Franklin Effect" is a psychological trick that makes you appear more likeable to other people.

It is not clear what factors this is based on.

No one likes to be seen as a bum in front of other people, so some people are cautious about asking for favors from others.

However, as researchers have shown, this fear that others will misunderstand the request is unfounded.

The sympathy depends on other points.

"Benjamin Franklin Effect": People like you even more when they have done you a favor

The effect is based on the writer and inventor Benjamin Franklin, who is said to have used this trick against an alleged enemy, reports

BusinessInsider

, citing author David McRaney.

He writes on his website "Youarenotsosmart" how the psycho trick got its name.

Thus, Franklin wanted to turn an enemy into a friend, since this man was described as a "gentleman of wealth and education" and was likely to become an influential man in government.

To establish contact, Franklin borrowed a book from his library, which flattered the man.

A week later he returned the book and enclosed a letter of thanks.

When the men next met, the encounter was said to have been extremely friendly.

With this body language, the job interview goes wrong

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"Benjamin Franklin Effect": Psychologists found the first evidence in 1969

Psychologists found the first indications of the "Benjamin Franklin Effect" in 1969.

As part of a small study, people were able to win money.

A third of the people were then told that the department that paid for the study ran out of money.

They were asked to return the money.

Another third was approached by the study director, who said he paid for the study himself and now has no money.

He also asked for the money back.

The last third was allowed to keep the money.

The behavior was then evaluated.

The participants who were able to give the money back to the study leader liked him the most.

The people who got to keep the money liked the principal investigator the least.


The scientists concluded that people like someone more if they can do them a favor.

This is based on cognitive dissonance - and comes with the assumption that it is difficult for people to do someone a favor and hate that person.

Cognitive dissonance describes the psychological discomfort that results from holding on to two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes.

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"Benjamin Franklin Effect": Psychologist sees a different approach

In her study, a psychologist found that participants liked other subjects more when they asked for help.

She believes that the Benjamin Franklin effect is therefore not a question of cognitive dissonance but can be described in terms of reciprocal affection.

This assumes that the person being asked for help thinks that the other person is asking for help because they like it and want to befriend them.

These positive feelings are then reciprocated.

With reciprocal affection, the more you think the other person appreciates you, the more likeable you are.

Source: merkur

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