Of course, the tendency to reciprocate favor for favor is also very intense, so

much so that it occasionally reverses the course of reciprocated hostility.

Weird pauses in fighting have sometimes occurred right in the middle of wars,

triggered by some minor courtesy or favor on the part of one side, followed by

favor reciprocation from the other side, and so on, until fighting stopped for a

considerable period. This happened more than once in the trench warfare of World

War I, over big stretches of the front and much to the dismay of the generals.

 

It is obvious that commercial trade, a fundamental cause of modern prosperity,

is enormously facilitated by man’s innate tendency to reciprocate favors. In

trade, enlightened self-interest joining with Reciprocation Tendency results in

constructive conduct. Daily interchange in marriage is also assisted by

Reciprocation Tendency, without which marriage would lose much of its allure.

 

And Reciprocation Tendency, insomuch as it causes good results, does not join

forces only with the superpower of incentives. It also joins

Inconsistency-Avoidance Tendency in helping cause (1) the fulfillment of

promises made as part of a bargain, including loyalty promises in marriage

ceremonies, and (2) correct behavior expected from persons serving as priests,

shoemakers, physicians, and all else.

 

Like other psychological tendencies, and also man’s ability to turn somersaults,

reciprocate-favor tendency operates to a very considerable degree at a

subconscious level. This helps make the tendency a strong force that can

sometimes be used by some men to mislead others, which happens all the time.