Definition
A pyramid of commitment sorts how deep a yes goes — interest, practice, public pledge, identity — before overload sets in.
Commitment consistency drives escalation from small yeses to larger obligations — not everyone shows equal preference for consistency, so the ladder is descriptive, not universal law.
Mechanism
| Layer | Typical signal |
|---|---|
| Curiosity | Low-cost probe — easy to reverse |
| Practice | Reps without public pledge |
| Public pledge | Identity on the line — harder to unwind |
| Identity-bound | ”This is who I am” — overload risk highest |
Engagement filters ask which layer a new yes serves before people-pleasing stacks another brick.
Applications
Engagement filters ask which layer a new yes serves — values, vision, dreams — before people-pleasing adds another brick.
Sources
Cite
- Cialdini, R. B., Trost, M. R., & Newsom, J. T. (1995). Preference for consistency: The development of a…. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(2), 318–328