Rudeness More Contagious Than Sneezes
Measles are contagious. Sneezes are contagious. But did you know rudeness is, too? New research has shown that encountering rude behavior at work makes people more likely to perceive rudeness in later interactions, a University of Florida study shows. It simply makes us more likely to be impolite in return, spreading rudeness like a virus. Who hasn't had a boss who called them out in a meeting for failing to do something? Or praised someone else for something you worked on, too? Years ago I had a boss who was so hateful I broke out in a rash on vacation when I was away from him, probably the only time my body felt safe enough to express it. He'd make me do things like pick up donuts for my peers or make copies of their work to be handed out at meetings. He did everything he could to make me feel small and worthless. And it worked. It also made me want to do churlish things back. Though I was a little too afraid to be rude right ...