Final answer:
A key factor in increasing the effectiveness of initial commitment is ensuring individuals view their commitment as voluntary. Techniques such as the foot-in-the-door and the principle of justification of effort illustrate how voluntary commitments can lead to greater consistency and deeper support for collective goals or group values.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it comes to enhancing the effectiveness of an initial commitment, one vital factor is ensuring that the individual perceives the commitment as voluntary. A sense of autonomy and ownership over the decision to commit can significantly bolster a person's willingness to change their thinking and behaviors. This principle is illustrated by community-based projects, which are often more successful when there is genuine stakeholder commitment. Such projects depend on the community psychologists and stakeholders being genuinely interested and committed to their success.
Another psychological concept reinforcing this idea is the foot-in-the-door technique, which suggests starting with a small request to build up to a larger commitment. The key is that the small initial agreement creates a pattern of consistency, making individuals more likely to agree to more substantial commitments. This approach can influence individuals to not only consider their attitudes, ideas, and behaviors but potentially lead others to do the same.
Furthermore, the commitment view within groups, such as religious or military organizations, implies that a collective belief or ordeal can create a normative constraint for members, leading them to commit deeply to the group's values or goals. Tough initiations or shared sacrifices can increase the perceived value of membership within these communities, an effect demonstrated by social psychology research, including studies on justification of effort.