Why does doing someone a favor make you like them more?

Want someone to like you? Do not do them a favor - ask them for one.

When you do a favor for someone, your mind has to square the effort with your feelings. Rather than admit you helped a person you do not care about, it nudges your attitude: you must like them. So the helper warms up to the person helped, not the reverse.

You lend a coworker $10 for lunch. A week later you notice you like him more than the colleague who once bought you coffee. Your own small favor did it.

If you want to win someone over, let them do a small favor for you - their mind will decide they like you.

It flips the usual advice: you build a bond faster by asking for a small favor than by handing out one.

Franklin borrowed a rare book from a rival, and the rival became his friend. The lender liked the borrower.

Learn the idea and practice English at the same time.