The Rule of Reciprocation Can Trigger Unequal Exchanges

A person can exploit the The Rule of Reciprocation by giving a small, unsolicited favor and then asking for a much larger favor in return. The discomfort of feeling indebted to someone often leads us to agree to a disproportionately large return favor.

The primary reason for this is the unpleasant feeling of being indebted to someone. This feeling weighs on us and we want to be free of it. This is a powerful emotional response that can lead us to make decisions that are not in our best interest.

A secondary reason is the fear of social disapproval. A person who does not reciprocate a favor is often disliked by the social group. This can lead to social isolation, which is a powerful motivator for most people. Therefore, we are often willing to give more than we receive to avoid being seen as a "moocher" or "freeloader."