Laws & Patterns
Cognitive Bias

Principle of Reciprocity

Users are more likely to return favors and respond positively to gifts or helpful gestures.

Definition

The Principle of Reciprocity refers to the human tendency to want to return favors or reciprocate positive actions. In UX design, this principle can be applied to create a sense of obligation in users, encouraging them to engage more with the product or service.

Do

  • Offer users something of value before asking for something in return
  • Use personalized and helpful gestures to make users feel special
  • Create opportunities for users to reciprocate

Avoid

  • Don't make the reciprocity feel forced or manipulative
  • Don't overuse this principle as it may lose its effect
  • Don't make the offering irrelevant or useless

When to apply

  • When designing user onboarding or tutorials
  • When seeking user feedback or survey completion
  • When promoting premium features or upselling

Related topics

Similar principles

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