Factors Affecting Courteous Behavior

Summary

Four experimental treatments examined whether an individual could increase the likelihood that another person would act in a more courteous manner toward him. Ss were 84 males and 84 females who had to exit from a parking lot by walking through a 15-yard corridor with doors at both ends of the corridor. The results showed that only if a C “intentionally” held the first door open for an S would the S reciprocate and hold the second door open for the C. Males engaged in more courteous behavior than females.