The purpose of this study was to explore the after effects caused due to the application of persuasion techniques on audience through an autoethnographic approach. Autoethnography is a qualitative method of research writing where the ethnographer uses self-reflection and writing to document his/her personal experiences to connect the text to wider social meanings and understandings. This research approach treats personal encounters as data and uses a narrative style of storytelling for sharing the data with the reader. The data collected from journals, books, and personal experience reflect the complexity of consumer behavior and how difficult it is to build a healthy rapport with them. Despite knowing the techniques/principles of persuasion …show more content…
Leakey and Lewin (1978) quoted, “We are human because our ancestors learned to share their food and their skills in an honored network of obligation”. Simply put, people are obliged to give back to others the form of a behavior, gift, or service that they have received first. For example, in our case study the visitors at Sam’s club were greeted with a smile at first and then asked if they wish to renovate their home. While many said “no” but they were still given a small artifact (a 2 inch 3-D model of the office building) and a contact card for the company [here, Home Concierge Services], asking them nothing in return. They instead gave back a smile while leaving and assured that whenever they plan on renovating their home the first choice would be ‘Home Concierge Services’. This clearly demonstrates that people do develop a soft corner for those helping them in any way; thus, justifying the principle of ‘reciprocity.’ In this, the person offering the favor secures an extra edge in the relationship – the dyadic power theory (people feel submissive towards those helping them in need) and the social exchange theory (people reciprocate in ways they’re