The Psychology Behind Jamie's Paper Extension Request

What psychological principle can be applied to Jamie's behavior in requesting a one-day extension for the paper assignment?

a. Cognitive dissonance theory

b. Foot-in-the-door technique

c. Door-in-the-face method

Answer:

The correct psychological principle that can be applied to Jamie's behavior in requesting a one-day extension for the paper assignment is c. Door-in-the-face method.

Jamie's behavior of first asking for a one-week extension and then settling for a one-day extension after the professor's refusal illustrates the door-in-the-face method. This compliance strategy, extensively studied in social psychology, involves making an initially large request that is likely to be turned down, followed by a smaller, more reasonable request.

The reasoning behind this method is that by initially rejecting the larger demand, the respondent appears more reasonable when faced with the subsequent smaller request. This increases the likelihood of the respondent agreeing to the second, more moderate request. Jamie's strategic approach in negotiating the extension mirrors the dynamics of the door-in-the-face technique.

This psychological principle highlights the importance of the contrast between the initial and subsequent requests in influencing compliance. Understanding such strategies can provide insights into effective persuasion and negotiation techniques in various social contexts.