This research experimentally investigated whether negative social cues decreased behavioral and affective responses on a simple clerical task among 88 undergraduates in co-acting groups. Vicarious punishment was examined as a strategy to offset the effects of negative social cues. Analysis shows that negative social cues have a deleterious effect on output but not on motivation or satisfaction with the social aspects of the work environment. Support for the use of vicarious punishment as a strategy for offsetting the deleterious effects of negative social cues was obtained.
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