Mean People Make More Money: Study
When it comes to the bottom line, it's better to be disagreeable in the workplace, according to a new study.
The Wall Street Journal reports on research to be published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, which suggests that the more agreeable you are, the less income you're likely to make. The difference is particularly significant for men.
The researchers examined "agreeableness" using self-reported survey data and found that men who measured below average on agreeableness earned about 18% more -- or $9,772 more annually in their sample -- than nicer guys. Ruder women, meanwhile, earned about 5% or $1,828 more than their agreeable counterparts.
The study was based on data from 10,000 workers in a wide range of jobs, salaries and ages.
The researchers found that men "earn a substantial premium" for being disagreeable while the same behavior has a negligible effect for women. The findings ring true across occupations.
The reason for this, the study suggests, likely has to do with employers' expectations for how men or women behave.
The study also posits that more agreeable people may be less likely to assert themselves in salary negotiations.
As TVNZ puts it, "It seems that nice guys do finish last and are also getting paid less."
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First Posted: 08/15/11 08:06 PM ET Updated: 10/15/11 06:12 AM ET