This study explores the Franklin Effect, the phenomenon whereby granting small requests fosters liking and bonding, within personal and workplace relationships. Drawing on cognitive dissonance and self-perception theory, the research adopts a qualitative exploratory design using semi-structured interviews with 30 participants (15 from personal contexts and 15 from workplace contexts) recruited through professional networks, social media and snowball sampling. Through thematic analysis, four core themes emerged: (1) psychological proximity - small requests reduce social distance and increase comfort in interactions; (2) reciprocity-driven trust - the act of granting favors enhances perceptions of trust and mutual respect; (3) workplace micro-bonding - minor requests strengthen collaboration and team cohesion; and (4) cultural framing - collectivist and individualist contexts moderate how the Franklin Effect manifests. These findings extend existing theory by revealing how small interpersonal exchanges function as low-cost, high-impact relational mechanisms. The study offers practical implications for managers and individuals seeking to leverage subtle, non-coercive strategies to build stronger social and professional ties. Keywords: Franklin Effect, small requests, bonding, trust, workplace relationships
Nguyen et al. (Sun,) studied this question.