Rudeness is contagious, in a similar way to a virus. When experiencing a rude encounter, our brain perceives it like a threat. And once we’ve tuned in to this low-level threat, we’re more likely to notice it around us, and therefore more likely to display rude behavior ourselves.
Our guest on this episode is Dr Trevor Foulk PhD, Assistant Professor of Management & Organization at the University of Maryland. His well published research on deviant workplace behaviors and workplace power dynamics, has been featured in Time magazine, Harvard Business Review, and the Wall Street Journal.
Trevor walks us through what rude behavior actually is, what our evolutionary response to it is and how we can take steps to mitigate the effects of it. We are also delighted to talk about Trevor’s research around the way power changes our behavior, and what impact a feeling of paranoia can add to the dynamics. And to Tim’s delight, Trevor also boosts our understanding of how music affects work performance.
Truth be told, our conversation with Trevor has opened our eyes into how rude behavior really impacts people. And in our Grooving Session, at the end of the episode, Kurt and Tim recap the ways Trevor’s research can improve our lives.
If you enjoy listening to our podcast, you can become an exclusive Behavioral Grooves Patreon member at https://www.patreon.com/behavioralgrooves.
Topics(3:28) Welcome and speed round
(8:38) How rudeness is contagious.
(11:45) Why do we view rudeness as threatening?
(13:10) The solutions to rudeness.
(15:36) How our response to rudeness differs from holding a grudge.
(17:52) Are certain personality types more susceptible to rudeness?
(19:15) What effect does rudeness have on medical professionals?
(22:59) Can gratitude have the opposite effect to rudeness?
(24:27) How the Anchoring Effect is affected by rudeness.
(28:43) How does a feeling of power change our behavior?
(35:40) Paranoia and power.
(39:51) How does music influence performance?
(47:35) Grooving Session with Kurt and Tim discussing what we’ve learnt from Trevor’s interview.
© 2021 Behavioral Grooves
LinksDr Trevor Foulk PhD: https://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/directory/trevor-foulk
Foulk, T.A., Woolum, A., & Erez, A. (2016). Catching rudeness is like catching a cold: The contagion effects of low-intensity negative behaviors. Journal of Applied Psychology: https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Administration/Probation/ResearchInBriefs/RIB_Rudeness_Apr16(1).pdf
Riskin, A. Erez, A., Foulk, T.A., Kugelman, A., Gover, A., Shoris, I, Riskin, K., & Bamberger, P.A. (2015). The impact of rudeness on medical team performance: A randomized trial. Pediatrics: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26260718/
Foulk, T.A., Lanaj, K., Tu, M., Erez, A., & Archambeau, L. (2018) Heavy is the head that wears the crown: An ator-centric approach to psychological power, abusive behavior, and perceived incivility. Academy of Management Journal: https://journals.aom.org/doi/10.5465/amj.2015.1061
John Bargh: Episode 155. Dante, Coffee and the Unconscious Mind: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/john-bargh-dante-coffee-and-the-unconscious-mind/
John Bargh, Episode 248. Do We Control Situations or Do Situations Control Us? https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/control-situations-with-john-bargh/
Vanessa Bohns, Episode 253. Why You Don‘t Need to be Powerful to be Influential: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/influence-vanessa-bohns/
Musical LinksLyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen “This Old Porch”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1xY2pu31h4
Jim Croce “Operator”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw01trwmul0
Rancid “Fall Back Down”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CinJuVtdp3Y
Jimmy Buffett “Margaritaville”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3HBcgxOWAQ
Eugen Dimant, PhD: What To Do About Bad Apples
Working through the Stages of Grief, Pandemics and the Psychology of Protests with Nicole Fisher
How Babies’ Faces on Shop Doors Can Reduce Crime: With Tara Austin
Elspeth Kirkman: Best Models for Identifying a Problem
Shlomi Ron: Visual Storying Telling In a Time of Crisis
Steve Wendel, PhD: Designing for Behavior Change
Robert Cialdini, PhD: Littering, Egoism and Aretha Franklin
Grooving: On the Principle of Scarcity
Katy Milkman, PhD: Using Behavior Change for Good
Grooving: On Goals and Goal Setting
Covid-19 Crisis: Caroline Webb, Senior Advisor at McKinsey, on The Value of Where We Place Our Attention and Amplifying Certainty
Covid-19 Crisis: Margaret Robinson Rutherford, PhD on Perfectly Hidden Depression
Grooving: Where Will You Live if You WFH?
Covid-19 Crisis: Elizabeth Gilbert, PhD on Adaptability, Imaginal Exposure and Lists
John Bargh: Dante, Coffee and the Unconscious Mind
Covid-19 Crisis: Howard Friedman, PhD on The Value of Human Life
Grooving: Protests Sparked by the Death of George Floyd in Minneapolis
Covid-19 Crisis: Chris Pfeiffer on Tips for Adjusting Sales Comp Plans
Dan Hill, PhD: On the Facial Coding of Trump, Hendrix, Prince, Gretzky and the Beatles
Covid-19 Crisis: Claire Bidwell Smith on Grief During the Crisis
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