Nuanced Aggression in Group Decision Making

Author ORCID Identifier

David Henningsen:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1147-9534

Mary Lynn Henningsen:https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9816-0018

Publication Title

International Journal of Business Communication

ISSN

23294884

E-ISSN

23294892

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Group decision making in organizations represents an opportunity for group members to seek to exert social influence. Whining and bullying are examined as nonrational influence tactics used by individuals in groups. Both tactics are envisioned as forms of aggression, differing across a dominance—submissiveness continuum. The impact of whining and bullying as compliance gaining tactics for organizational group decision making is examined using 234 individuals whose jobs include group decision making in organizations. The use of bullying and whining tactics are positively correlated indicating dominance complementarity, with increases in one tactic being associated with increases in the other. In addition, bullying and whining are found to have negative effects on cohesiveness and group decision-making effectiveness.

First Page

145

Last Page

158

Publication Date

1-1-2020

DOI

10.1177/2329488417704951

Keywords

bullying, compliance gaining, interpersonal theory, social influence, whining

Department

Department of Communication

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