Dominance-seeking workers see more sexual interest in coworkers’ behavior, and that may help explain harassment
A smile or friendly chat at work isn’t usually an invitation. But employees with a strong desire to dominate others were more likely to read sexual interest into such behavior, and those perceptions were linked to self-reported harassment.
Two survey studies have found that employees who have a strong desire for social dominance are more likely to interpret the friendly behavior of a coworker of the opposite gender as sexual interest. This perception is more common among men and can lead to an increased likelihood of engaging in workplace sexual harassment. The research, published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, suggests that dominance motivation may be a key factor in shaping how individuals perceive ambiguous social behavior and may contribute to inappropriate advances.
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