Exploring the Social Ledger: Negative Relationships and Negative Asymmetry in Social Networks in Organizations

Exploring the Social Ledger: Negative Relationships and Negative Asymmetry in Social Networks in Organizations
Author(s): Labianca, Giuseppe and Daniel, Brass
Year: 2003
Paper Number: GBS-OM-2003-001
Goizueta Department: Organization and Management

Abstract

We explore the role of negative relationships in the context of social networks in work organizations. Though network researchers have emphasized the benefits and opportunities derived from positive interpersonal relationships, we examine the social liabilities that can result from negative relationships in order to flesh out the entire "social ledger." We define a negative relationship as an enduring, recurring set of negative judgments, feelings, and behavioral intentions towards another person – one person dislikes another. We identify the factors that lead to negative relationships in the workplace as well as factors that may moderate the relationship between negative relationships and individuals' task and socioemotional outcomes. We argue that these negative relationships may have greater power than positive relationships to explain workplace outcomes. We derive our argument from theory and research on negative asymmetry.