REASON AND RATIONALE VS. UNREASONABLE DEMANDS
In a Harvard social experiment, a librarian was asked to shut down all but one of the available copying machines. With only one copying machine in operation, a long queue soon formed at the only working machine as students were eager to do their copying. The social experiment involved getting people to try to get others to allow them to cut in front of them and get the copying done first.
The first group were instructed to simply ask: "I have five pages, may I cut in and use the copying machine?". In sixty percent of these cases, the people in line allowed the one who made the request, to go first.
Another group was instructed with a small but important variation of the first request and ask: "I have five pages, may I use the machine because I have to make some copies?" The only difference being that the second request included a reason "because...", even though the reason was the same as the others in line, presumably. The results of this request was that ninety three percent of the people approached, allowed the requester to cut in line. The finding suggests that people are more likely to respond to reason and rationale rather than unreasonable and imposed demands.
The first group were instructed to simply ask: "I have five pages, may I cut in and use the copying machine?". In sixty percent of these cases, the people in line allowed the one who made the request, to go first.
Another group was instructed with a small but important variation of the first request and ask: "I have five pages, may I use the machine because I have to make some copies?" The only difference being that the second request included a reason "because...", even though the reason was the same as the others in line, presumably. The results of this request was that ninety three percent of the people approached, allowed the requester to cut in line. The finding suggests that people are more likely to respond to reason and rationale rather than unreasonable and imposed demands.
