Summary
New research from Cornell University shows that people tend to find rude behavior more acceptable if it is a response to someone else's initial rudeness, rather than being the first instance of bad behavior. The study used experiments to show that retaliatory rudeness is often viewed as justified and even admirable, while rudeness without provocation is less tolerated.
Key Facts
- The study was led by researchers from Cornell University.
- It involved five experiments with nearly 850 participants.
- People judged retaliatory rudeness more leniently compared to initial rudeness.
- Retaliatory rudeness was often seen as justified and sometimes even admired.
- In online settings, such as a subreddit, people admired those who responded to rudeness.
- Sports fans viewed players as more virtuous when retaliating after provocation during games.
- Retaliatory actions were seen positively only when directed at the original offender.
- A workplace study found civil responses to rudeness were rated more positively, but blunt replies were not judged more harshly than neutral responses.
