Why Doing Favors Makes You Like Others

You actually grow to like people more after you help them, rather than the other way around. Performing a favor for someone tricks your brain into justifying the effort by deciding you must admire that person.

This phenomenon highlights how our minds work to resolve a conflict between our actions and our feelings. When we go out of our way to assist someone, we subconsciously reason that we wouldn't sacrifice our energy for someone we disliked. It is a classic example of cognitive dissonance, where our attitudes shift to match our behavior. If you want someone to warm up to you, asking for a small favor might be more effective than offering one.