登门槛效应
Foot-in-the-door effect
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Foot-in-the-door effect
29 new words
门槛ménkǎnthreshold
生活中有些请求像一道门槛：第一次很小，后来却越来越难拒绝。
报社bàoshènewspaper office, headquarters of a newspaper
一家报社的编辑后来在报道里介绍了这项研究。
A newspaper editor later described the study in a report.
编辑biānjíeditor
一家报社的编辑后来在报道里介绍了这项研究。
A newspaper editor later described the study in a report.
嗯ǹgused to indicate positive response
多数人说“嗯，这没有问题”，因为标志很小，处理起来也不迫切。
Most say, 'Yes, that is no problem,' because the sign is small and not urgent to handle.
轻易qīngyìeasy, effortless
心理学把这种变化称作登门槛效应，意思是一个人答应了一件小事，可能更轻易接受下一件事。
处理chǔlǐto handle, to deal with
多数人说“嗯，这没有问题”，因为标志很小，处理起来也不迫切。
Most say, 'Yes, that is no problem,' because the sign is small and not urgent to handle.
社区shèqūcommunity
例如，几位研究者上门时先出示证件，再请社区居民在门口贴一块圆形的小标志，表达对驾驶安全的赞成。
For example, researchers showed their identification at the door, then asked community residents to put a small round sign up by it, expressing approval for driving safety.
劝quànto try to persuade
几天后，研究者再劝他们在院子里放一块更大的牌子，并请他们告诉邻居原因。
Days later, the researchers persuade them to put a larger board in the yard and explain it to neighbours.
圆yuánround, circular
例如，几位研究者上门时先出示证件，再请社区居民在门口贴一块圆形的小标志，表达对驾驶安全的赞成。
For example, researchers showed their identification at the door, then asked community residents to put a small round sign up by it, expressing approval for driving safety.
标志biāozhìsign, mark
例如，几位研究者上门时先出示证件，再请社区居民在门口贴一块圆形的小标志，表达对驾驶安全的赞成。
For example, researchers showed their identification at the door, then asked community residents to put a small round sign up by it, expressing approval for driving safety.
出示chūshìto show, to produce
例如，几位研究者上门时先出示证件，再请社区居民在门口贴一块圆形的小标志，表达对驾驶安全的赞成。
For example, researchers showed their identification at the door, then asked community residents to put a small round sign up by it, expressing approval for driving safety.
赞成zànchéngto agree with, to approve of
例如，几位研究者上门时先出示证件，再请社区居民在门口贴一块圆形的小标志，表达对驾驶安全的赞成。
For example, researchers showed their identification at the door, then asked community residents to put a small round sign up by it, expressing approval for driving safety.
请愿书qǐngyuànshūpetition
同样的心理也会影响恋爱中的答应、值班时的换班，以及签请愿书的选择。
恋爱liàn'ài(romantic) love
同样的心理也会影响恋爱中的答应、值班时的换班，以及签请愿书的选择。
迫切pòqièurgent, pressing, eager
多数人说“嗯，这没有问题”，因为标志很小，处理起来也不迫切。
Most say, 'Yes, that is no problem,' because the sign is small and not urgent to handle.
犹豫yóuyùhesitant
起初冷淡的人也会犹豫：已经表示赞成了，现在若说无所谓，会不会显得前后不一？
冷淡lěngdàncold, indifferent
起初冷淡的人也会犹豫：已经表示赞成了，现在若说无所谓，会不会显得前后不一？
无所谓wúsuǒwèito not care, to not mind, to not take seriously
起初冷淡的人也会犹豫：已经表示赞成了，现在若说无所谓，会不会显得前后不一？
值班zhíbānto be on duty or shift
同样的心理也会影响恋爱中的答应、值班时的换班，以及签请愿书的选择。
报告bàogàoreport
有人先请朋友写一份简短报告，之后再请他承担更多工作；若不留心，小请求会一步步加大拒绝的难度，也会缩短人思考的时间。
八成bāchéng(r)most probably, most likely; eighty percent
于是八成参加者同意了第二个请求。
模糊móhublurred, indistinct, vague
这里的力量并不神秘，而是人想让自己的行动保持一致；当理由仍然模糊时，这种愿望尤其容易推动选择。
狡猾jiǎohuácrafty, cunning
这不表示所有说服都很狡猾。
This does not mean all persuasion is cunning.
了不起liǎobuqǐgreat, amazing
答应一件小事并不了不起，难的是看清它后面还跟着多少件。
Agreeing to one small thing is nothing remarkable; what is hard is seeing how many more stand behind it.
身段shēnduànposture, manner, attitude
关键是给人真实选择，而不是看不起别人的时间；组织者也要肯放下身段，听听对方为什么犹豫，更不能用迫切的语气逼人接受。
The key is offering a real choice, not looking down on another person's time; organisers should also drop their airs and listen to why someone hesitates, rather than pressuring them with urgency.
缩短suōduǎnto shorten
有人先请朋友写一份简短报告，之后再请他承担更多工作；若不留心，小请求会一步步加大拒绝的难度，也会缩短人思考的时间。
看不起kànbuqǐto look down upon, to despise
关键是给人真实选择，而不是看不起别人的时间；组织者也要肯放下身段，听听对方为什么犹豫，更不能用迫切的语气逼人接受。
The key is offering a real choice, not looking down on another person's time; organisers should also drop their airs and listen to why someone hesitates, rather than pressuring them with urgency.
谦虚qiānxūmodest
面对请求时，谦虚地说明界限，也不等于总是答应。
When facing a request, stating a boundary modestly does not mean always agreeing.
实践shíjiànto put into practice
好的组织也能用小行动培养实践习惯，比如请居民先捡一袋垃圾，再讨论长期计划，再由大家决定是否继续。
Good organisations can also use small actions to build habits of practice, such as asking residents to pick up one bag of rubbish before discussing a long-term plan and then deciding together whether to continue.
Listen to the text
生活中有些请求像一道门槛：第一次很小，后来却越来越难拒绝。心理学把这种变化称作登门槛效应，意思是一个人答应了一件小事，可能更轻易接受下一件事。人在行动后常会给自己一个解释，这个解释有时比请求本身更有力量。
shēng huó zhōng yǒu xiē qǐng qiú xiàng yī dào ménkǎn： dì yī cì hěn xiǎo， hòu lái què yuè lái yuè nán jù jué。 xīn lǐ xué bǎ zhè zhǒng biàn huà chēng zuò dēng ménkǎn xiào yīng， yì sī shì yī gè rén dá yīng le yī jiàn xiǎo shì， kě néng gèng qīngyì jiē shòu xià yī jiàn shì。 rén zài xíng dòng hòu cháng huì gěi zì jǐ yī gè jiě shì， zhè gè jiě shì yǒu shí bǐ qǐng qiú běn shēn gèng yǒu lì liàng。
Some requests in life are like a threshold: the first is small, but later ones become harder to refuse. Psychology describes this change as the foot-in-the-door effect. It means that someone who agrees to one small matter may more readily accept the next one. After acting, people often give themselves an explanation, and that explanation can be stronger than the request itself.
例如，几位研究者上门时先出示证件，再请社区居民在门口贴一块圆形的小标志，表达对驾驶安全的赞成。一家报社的编辑后来在报道里介绍了这项研究。多数人说“嗯，这没有问题”，因为标志很小，处理起来也不迫切。几天后，研究者再劝他们在院子里放一块更大的牌子，并请他们告诉邻居原因。
lì rú， jǐ wèi yán jiū zhě shàng mén shí xiān chūshì zhèng jiàn， zài qǐng shèqū jū mín zài mén kǒu tiē yī kuài yuán xíng de xiǎo biāozhì， biǎo dá duì jià shǐ ān quán de zànchéng。 yī jiā bàoshè de biānjí hòu lái zài bào dào lǐ jiè shào le zhè xiàng yán jiū。 duō shù rén shuō“ ǹg， zhè méi yǒu wèn tí”， yīn wèi biāozhì hěn xiǎo， chǔlǐ qǐ lái yě bù pòqiè。 jǐ tiān hòu， yán jiū zhě zài quàn tā men zài yuàn zi lǐ fàng yī kuài gèng dà de pái zi， bìng qǐng tā men gào sù lín jū yuán yīn。
For example, researchers showed their identification at the door, then asked community residents to put a small round sign up by it, expressing approval for driving safety. A newspaper editor later described the study in a report. Most say, 'Yes, that is no problem,' because the sign is small and not urgent to handle. Days later, the researchers persuade them to put a larger board in the yard and explain it to neighbours.
起初冷淡的人也会犹豫：已经表示赞成了，现在若说无所谓，会不会显得前后不一？于是八成参加者同意了第二个请求。这里的力量并不神秘，而是人想让自己的行动保持一致；当理由仍然模糊时，这种愿望尤其容易推动选择。
qǐ chū lěngdàn de rén yě huì yóuyù： yǐ jīng biǎo shì zànchéng le， xiàn zài ruò shuō wúsuǒwèi， huì bù huì xiǎn dé qián hòu bù yī？ yú shì bāchéng cān jiā zhě tóng yì le dì èr gè qǐng qiú。 zhè lǐ de lì liàng bìng bù shén mì， ér shì rén xiǎng ràng zì jǐ de xíng dòng bǎo chí yī zhì； dāng lǐ yóu réng rán móhu shí， zhè zhǒng yuàn wàng yóu qí róng yì tuī dòng xuǎn zé。
Even people who were initially indifferent may hesitate: they have already shown approval, so would saying it does not matter now make them seem inconsistent? As a result, eighty percent of participants agreed to the second request. The force is not mysterious; people want their actions to remain consistent. When reasons remain vague, that desire can especially easily guide a choice.
同样的心理也会影响恋爱中的答应、值班时的换班，以及签请愿书的选择。有人先请朋友写一份简短报告，之后再请他承担更多工作；若不留心，小请求会一步步加大拒绝的难度，也会缩短人思考的时间。它也提醒组织者，不能把别人的善意当作无限资源。
tóng yàng de xīn lǐ yě huì yǐng xiǎng liàn'ài zhōng de dá yīng、 zhíbān shí de huàn bān， yǐ jí qiān qǐngyuànshū de xuǎn zé。 yǒu rén xiān qǐng péng yǒu xiě yī fèn jiǎn duǎn bàogào， zhī hòu zài qǐng tā chéng dān gèng duō gōng zuò； ruò bù liú xīn， xiǎo qǐng qiú huì yī bù bù jiā dà jù jué de nán dù， yě huì suōduǎn rén sī kǎo de shí jiān。 tā yě tí xǐng zǔ zhī zhě， bù néng bǎ bié rén de shàn yì dāng zuò wú xiàn zī yuán。
The same psychology can affect agreeing in a relationship, swapping a duty shift, or choosing to sign a petition. Someone may first ask a friend to write a short report and later ask them to take on more work. Without attention, small requests steadily raise the cost of saying no and shorten the time people give themselves to think. It also reminds organisers not to treat another person's kindness as unlimited resources.
这不表示所有说服都很狡猾。好的组织也能用小行动培养实践习惯，比如请居民先捡一袋垃圾，再讨论长期计划，再由大家决定是否继续。关键是给人真实选择，而不是看不起别人的时间；组织者也要肯放下身段，听听对方为什么犹豫，更不能用迫切的语气逼人接受。
zhè bù biǎo shì suǒ yǒu shuō fú dōu hěn jiǎohuá。 hǎo de zǔ zhī yě néng yòng xiǎo xíng dòng péi yǎng shíjiàn xí guàn， bǐ rú qǐng jū mín xiān jiǎn yī dài lā jī， zài tǎo lùn zhǎng qī jì huà， zài yóu dà jiā jué dìng shì fǒu jì xù。 guān jiàn shì gěi rén zhēn shí xuǎn zé， ér bù shì kànbuqǐ bié rén de shí jiān； zǔ zhī zhě yě yào kěn fàng xià shēnduàn， tīng tīng duì fāng wèi shén me yóuyù， gèng bù néng yòng pòqiè de yǔ qì bī rén jiē shòu。
This does not mean all persuasion is cunning. Good organisations can also use small actions to build habits of practice, such as asking residents to pick up one bag of rubbish before discussing a long-term plan and then deciding together whether to continue. The key is offering a real choice, not looking down on another person's time; organisers should also drop their airs and listen to why someone hesitates, rather than pressuring them with urgency.
面对请求时，谦虚地说明界限，也不等于总是答应。我们可以问自己：这个目标是否值得，这一步会带来什么后果，下一步是不是就没那么容易推掉。答应一件小事并不了不起，难的是看清它后面还跟着多少件。看清过程，才不会把一时的同意变成无法处理的负担；必要时也可以平静说明界限。
miàn duì qǐng qiú shí， qiānxū dì shuō míng jiè xiàn， yě bù děng yú zǒng shì dá yīng。 wǒ men kě yǐ wèn zì jǐ： zhè gè mù biāo shì fǒu zhí dé， zhè yī bù huì dài lái shén me hòu guǒ， xià yī bù shì bù shì jiù méi nà me róng yì tuī diào。 dá yīng yī jiàn xiǎo shì bìng bù liǎobuqǐ， nán de shì kàn qīng tā hòu miàn hái gēn zhe duō shǎo jiàn。 kàn qīng guò chéng， cái bù huì bǎ yī shí de tóng yì biàn chéng wú fǎ chǔlǐ de fù dān； bì yào shí yě kě yǐ píng jìng shuō míng jiè xiàn。
When facing a request, stating a boundary modestly does not mean always agreeing. We can ask whether the goal is worthwhile, what consequence this step brings, and whether the next step will be so easy to turn down. Agreeing to one small thing is nothing remarkable; what is hard is seeing how many more stand behind it. Seeing the process clearly keeps a momentary agreement from becoming an unmanageable burden; when necessary, we can state a boundary calmly.
Tap a marked word for its meaning. Tap a line to see the English.
Grammar
多数人说“嗯，这没有问题”，因为标志很小，处理起来也不迫切。Most say, 'Yes, that is no problem,' because the sign is small and not urgent to handle.
嗯+ Statement
嗯. Interjection for agreement, questioning, or showing respect/attention.
嗯，如果您心情好，我就说件事。
ǹg, rúguǒ nín xīnqíng hǎo, wǒ jiù shuō jiàn shì.
Well, if you're in a good mood, I'll tell you something.
心理学把这种变化称作登门槛效应，意思是一个人答应了一件小事，可能更轻易接受下一件事。
轻易+ Verb
轻易. Adjective meaning easy; or Adverb meaning rashly/lightly (often in negative).
假，就这样轻易地请好了。
jià, jiù zhèyàng qīngyì de qǐng hǎo le.
The leave was granted easily just like that.
Which word means “newspaper office, headquarters of a newspaper”?
Culture
登门槛效应 - Foot-in-the-door effect
The foot in the door effect means that after people accept a small request, they may be more willing to accept a larger one. It shows that decisions often take shape step by step. Understanding this pattern can help people build good habits and clarify their own limits when others keep asking for more.
Write the new characters
0 of 14 written
槛 from 门槛 · threshold
Practice
8 questions · about 4 minutes
Pick the meaningListenFill the gapMatchWord order
Finish
Finish the practice to complete this lesson.