It Pays to Be a Jerk

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TweetSorry, nice guys: Now there’s proof that you really do finish last. According to a new study in Social Psychological and Personality Science, people who bend the rules are seen as more powerful than friendly folks.

It’s simple: They can get away with more crap. “Powerful people experience more leeway to act as they please,” says lead researcher Gerben A. Van Kleef, a psychology professor at the University of Amsterdam. “They feel freer to take more cookies from a common plate, eat with their mouths open, and spread crumbs. Engaging in such rule-breaking behavior signals power.”

You already know that men with power can be corrupt. (Hey, how’s jail, Bernie Madoff?) But Van Kleef and his team wanted to see if corruption actually implies power to other people. After watching actors either behave or misbehave, participants in the study rated those who disregarded social norms as more likely to make decisions and sway other people than their politely-behaving counterparts.

Arriving late to a meeting or propping your feet up on a coworker’s desk could give you the upper hand at the office, the researchers say. “Our findings suggest that people who take the liberty to violate norms are seen as more powerful than people who obey the rules,” Van Kleef says. “People who dare to break the rules will be perceived as powerful, regardless of their actual standing.”

But remember: You might gain power from being a jerk, but you’ll probably lose friends fast—and piss off your boss. So while we find this interesting, we don’t actually recommend unleashing your inner a-hole. There are nicer routes to power, like being loyal to your group, investing in the group’s welfare, or being an expert on a topic and giving good advice, Van Kleef says. As for other office-friendly power plays, read Have a Career Year to learn how to gain money and respect without being a jerk.

—Bari Lieberman