<p>The effect you ask about could very well be seen as an example of the Ben Franklin effect, also known as the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
In your example, replying to the question "Do you have a charger?" would be interpreted as a small favor which is then followed by the bigger favor of lending the item.</p>

<p>Reference:</p>

<p>Beaman, A. L., Cole, C. M., Preston, M., Klentz, B., &amp; Steblay, N. M. (1983). Fifteen Years of Foot-in-the Door Research. <em>Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin</em>, 9(2), 181-196.<br>DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167283092002" rel="nofollow noreferrer">10.1177/0146167283092002</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-07T00:34:18.757Z
Welcome to Psychology.SE  Where possible it is preferred if you can provide a DOI or PMID number and link for easy retrieval of articles referenced so I helped out by adding it to your reference
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-06T21:39:46.227Z
2018-04-07T00:31:58.757Z
2018-04-07T00:31:58.757Z
Max J.
<p>Suppose I want to borrow an item, such as a phone charger from someone.</p>

<p>Instead of directly asking them, "Could I borrow a charger?"</p>

<p>I first ask this question: "Do you have a charger?"</p>

<p>The act of asking a question of fact (whether they have the item or not) will make them more willing to lend you the item.</p>

<p>Is there a term or explanation for this? </p>

<p>Is this related or similar to the Ben Franklin effect and Anchoring effect?</p>

<decision-making>
Preconditioning before asking a favor
Angle Qian
# Preconditioning before asking a favor

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-03-30)

Suppose I want to borrow an item, such as a phone charger from someone.

Instead of directly asking them, "Could I borrow a charger?"

I first ask this question: "Do you have a charger?"

The act of asking a question of fact (whether they have the item or not) will make them more willing to lend you the item.

Is there a term or explanation for this?

Is this related or similar to the Ben Franklin effect and Anchoring effect?

**Tags:** decision-making


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-04-06. Score: 2

The effect you ask about could very well be seen as an example of the Ben Franklin effect, also known as the foot-in-the-door phenomenon.
In your example, replying to the question "Do you have a charger?" would be interpreted as a small favor which is then followed by the bigger favor of lending the item.

Reference:

Beaman, A. L., Cole, C. M., Preston, M., Klentz, B., & Steblay, N. M. (1983). Fifteen Years of Foot-in-the Door Research. *Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin*, 9(2), 181-196.  
DOI: [10.1177/0146167283092002](https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167283092002)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Welcome to Psychology.SE  Where possible it is preferred if you can provide a DOI or PMID number and link for easy retrieval of articles referenced so I helped out by adding it to your reference  

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