Differential evaluations of likeable and dislikeable behaviours enacted towards superiors and subordinates

Subjects (N=129) judged the favourability of 20 behaviours enacted towards either subordinates or superiors of the actor. Likeable behaviours were evaluated more moderately when they were enacted towards superiors, indicating that subjects took into account the possibility that the actor was engaging in ingratiation. Moderately dislikeable behaviours were evaluated more negatively when they were enacted towards subordinates, suggesting that their negative meaning was strengthened when the behavioural target was powerless. Extremely dislikeable behaviours were evaluated negatively regardless of the persons towards whom they were enacted. These results suggest that, in interpreting positive and moderate (i.e. ambiguous) behaviours, characteristics of the behavioural targets are used to determine the actor's intentions and, thereby, the evaluative meaning of the behaviour. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.