The Rule of Reciprocation

The rule of reciprocation states that we should try to repay, in kind, what another person has provided us. This rule is deeply ingrained in all human societies and is a fundamental part of what makes us human.

The rule creates a "web of indebtedness" that allows for the division of labor, the exchange of goods and services, and the creation of interdependencies that bind individuals together. It allows one person to give something to another with confidence that it is not being lost.

The sense of obligation created by the rule can be very powerful and long-lasting. For example, Ethiopia sent $5,000 in aid to Mexico in 1985 because Mexico had sent aid to Ethiopia in 1935.

The rule of reciprocation is a powerful weapon of influence because it creates a sense of obligation that can be difficult to resist.