RICHMOND, Va -- Have you ever gone in to work when one person is in a bad mood, and then soon, everybody else is, too?
A new study finds your impression is correct -- rudeness is, actually, contagious.
Researchers at the University of Florida say people who are treated rudely are more likely to perceive other people as acting rudely later on, even when it's not the case.
The study tracked 90 graduate students as they negotiated with each other. After an interaction, the students rated their partner's demeanor. They found the students who said their partner was rude to them were more likely to be rated as rude by their later partners.
Not only that: the study also found people who merely witnessed one person being rude to another were more likely to be rude as well. The researchers had a group of people watch video of a rude exchange in the workplace, then respond to a fake customer email that was neutral in tone.
The scientists found the people who watched the rude exchanged responded in a more hostile manner than people who watched a polite exchange before responding to the fake email.
The researchers say they hope managers take hostility in the workplace more seriously as a result of the study.
