Diminished Reciprocity is when someone gives you something, but not as much as they should, and they expect you to give them more in return.
Imagine you have a best friend named Max, and every day he shares his snacks with you. But one day, he only gives you one of his favorite cookies instead of the usual five. That’s diminished reciprocity, he gave you less than normal, but still expects you to give him your best toy in return.
How It Works in Real Life
Let's say you're at a store with your mom. She lets you pick one candy, that's fair. But if she only lets you choose the worst candy on the shelf and then says, “You have to buy me a whole bag of chips,” that’s diminished reciprocity in action!
It's like when someone gives you a tiny gift but wants a big thank-you, or even a bigger gift back. It’s not fair, but it happens all the time!
Examples
- A child shares their toy with a friend, but the friend doesn't share back.
- Someone helps you move furniture, but later ignores your calls.
- You give a gift to a friend, who never gives anything in return.
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See also
- What are behavior patterns?
- What are avoidance behaviors?
- Intro to Psychology: What is Psychology?
- What is Reinforcement?
- What are psychological levels?