Reciprocity in social psychology refers to responding to a positive action with another positive action, rewarding kind actions. 

Positive behaviors or gestures leading a positive response:

As a social construct, reciprocity means that in response to friendly actions, people are frequently much nicer and much more cooperative than predicted by the self-interest model; 

Negative remarks or behaviors leads to negative reactions:


conversely, in response to hostile actions they are frequently much more nasty and even brutal.

For example; if a person does a good deed (complimenting, speaking good) towards another person, then he will activate, stimulate or put to work the positive energies, thus enabling the other person to respond back in a good way.

But the contrary is also true; if someone insults, speaks evil about, condemn, gossip, spread roomers of propaganda, insist on exposing or telling stories about one’s weaknesses, such behaviors will stimulate the nasty (brutal) traits in the person’s life that is being victimized.

Reciprocity is considered as a strong determining factor of human behavior. 

Positive reciprocal actions are actions taken with the hope or expectation of future positive responses. 

The focus of reciprocity is centered more on trading favors than making a negotiation or a contract with another person. 

With reciprocity, a small favor can produce a sense of obligation to a larger return favor. This feeling of obligation allows an action to be reciprocated with another action. 

Because there is a sense of future obligation with reciprocity it can help to develop and continue relationships with people. 

Reciprocity works because from a young age people are taught to return favors and to disregard this teaching will lead to the social stigma of being an ingrate or self seeking.