A Fraud Favor: What is the Benjamin Franklin effect?

By Sofia Saldaña

Essay provided by a student in Ben Clark’s Grade 12 English class with a special focus on the study of psychology.

What is the Benjamin Franklin effect?

We often assume that receiving kindness makes us like others more, but psychology shows the opposite is often true. It may sound counterintuitive, people often grow fond of others not when they receive a favor, but when they perform a favor. The Benjamin Franklin effect is a psychological phenomenon that reveals how our actions can shape our attitudes. Demonstrating that humans are more likely to develop a positive view toward someone after doing them a favor. The Benjamin Franklin effect is a cognitive dissonance, meaning that when someone holds two or more opposing beliefs at once, it creates a sense of psychological tension or discomfort. This is further exemplified in an article by Effectivology, the Benjamin Franklin effect happens mainly for 2 reasons. First, people try to ease cognitive dissonance by justifying their actions. If they do a favor for someone, they convince themselves it must be because they like that person. Second, when they do not have any specific feelings towards someone, they may form their attitude based on how they act towards them.

Further Interpretation/Application

Imagine a student named John, who doesn’t know his classmate, Rebeca, very well and isn’t sure if she likes him. One day, John asks Rebeca to lend him her notes for a test, Rebeca further agrees, and after helping, she starts to feel more positively toward James. Rebeca might believe that this small gesture could further develop into a friendly relationship. Another example, imagine you don’t feel very close to a teammate, but they ask you to help them practice before a game. After you agree and spend time helping, you might begin to feel more positively toward them. Since your behavior clashes with your earlier attitude, your brain reduces the conflict by deciding you must actually like the value of that person more than you thought.

Caption: Quote provided by wonderfulquote.com where you can find a collection of the best Benjamin Franklin quotations.

The Benjamin Franklin effect has a great influence on people’s perceptions of others. When individuals do a favor they rationalize their behaviors and believe they like that person. Taking into consideration the wise words of Benjamin Franklin, once someone demonstrates kindness towards you, they are more likely to repeat that behavior. That creates a different perception on different actions and attitudes of kindness that have an impact on a social atmosphere.

Negative Effects of the Phenomenon

Although this phenomenon may seem like a great discovery, the overuse can have a damaging effect. In the article “The Benjamin Franklin Effect: Build Rapport by Asking for Favors” by Dr. Itamar Schatz, who has a PhD in psychology, explains, “Accordingly, there is also a negative version of the Ben Franklin effect, which can cause people to increase the degree to which they dislike a person, after they treat that person in a negative manner.” This quote illustrates that this occurs because individuals feel the need to rationalize their actions, leading to a shift in their attitude toward the person based on their own negative behavior.

What is its Origin?

The origin of the cognitive bias comes from Benjamin Franklin, as it is situated in the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. This story reflects how he overcame the hostility of a political rival, by learning that the man owned a rare book, Franklin requested to borrow it. His rival then agreed, and when Franklin returned the book with a note of appreciation, their relationship shifted, from then on, the rival showed more respect.

Conclusion

Overall, the Benjamin Franklin effect illustrates how our behaviors shape our relationships. When used thoughtfully, it could be applied as an advantage, to create a better bond with your peers, but must be applied carefully to avoid manipulation. Revealing that by a favor it increases our positive feeling towards them, this phenomenon demonstrates the powerful role of cognitive dissonance in human relationships. Exhibited by Franklin’s own experience with a rival legislator or by everyday examples like classmates helping each other. Ultimately, demonstrating that our perceptions are not fixed but are influenced by choices we make

References AZQuotes.com. “Benjamin Franklin.” Wind and Fly LTD, https://www.azquotes.com/quote/102040 Accessed 11 September, 2025.

Braithwaite, Lauren.“Why do we like someone more after doing them a favor?” The Decision Lab. https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/benjamin-franklin-effect Accessed 01 September, 2025

Cheong, Weng & Lebowitz, Shana. “How to harness the power of the ‘Ben Franklin Effect,’ a psychological trick that will make you more likable at work and in life” Business Insider. July 3, 2020 https://www.businessinsider.com/ben-franklin-effect-2016-12 Accessed 01 September, 2025

Mantell, Mike “ The Benjamin Franklin Effect: How to Be Likable”. May 7, 2025 https://www.scienceofpeople.com/benjamin-franklin-effect/ Accessed 08 September, 2025

Shatz, Itamar. “The Benjamin Franklin Effect: Build Rapport by Asking for Favors” Effectiviology, https://effectiviology.com/benjamin-franklin-effect. Accessed 01 September, 2025