Home / Science / Cornell Study: Retaliating Rudely Can Be Justified
Cornell Study: Retaliating Rudely Can Be Justified
10 Apr
Summary
- Responding rudely is seen as more justified when retaliatory.
- Civil responses are still viewed most positively overall.
- Study involved five experiments with nearly 850 participants.
New research indicates that responding to rudeness with rudeness may be perceived as more justified and moral, especially when it serves as a retaliation. This perception arises because such responses can be interpreted as defending social norms or addressing misconduct. However, civil replies are consistently viewed most favorably, even when retaliatory rudeness is deemed more acceptable in context.
The study, conducted by Cornell University scientists through five experiments involving approximately 850 participants, explored how people judge rudeness within interactions. Findings suggest that retaliatory rudeness is often seen as a way to address perceived injustices or to signal that an initial offense has occurred.
While the study highlights that retaliatory incivility is judged less harshly, researchers do not advocate for it. The acceptability is limited to direct responses to the instigator, not a spread of rudeness to others. Professor Merrick Osborne noted that retaliatory rudeness is seen as protecting group norms and signaling wrongdoing.
