[Conference] ‘Increasing Willingness to Voice in Uncivil Groups Using Amplification’
July 15th, 2025
2pm – 3:30pm in Village Building (B252) & on Zoom
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Speaker: Kristin BAIN – Rochester Institute of Technology, USA
abstract
Few studies have investigated how organizations can limit the damage caused by incivility.
We show how supportive actions may counteract incivility. In two experiments with over 1,200 participants total, we found that, in uncivil groups, experiencing or observing amplification (i.e., public endorsement by one group member of another’s contribution while giving that person credit) improved perceptions of the group: Group members who experienced or observed amplification perceived the group as less uncivil; as perceptions of incivility decreased, participants felt more psychologically safe, believed they could impact the group more, and, ultimately, were more willing to voice (and less likely to withhold) future contributions in that group.
Our findings provide evidence that it is possible to reduce the harm of incivility by adding a supportive behavior, even in the presence of ongoing incivility, and demonstrate psychological safety and perceived impact as mechanisms underlying this effect.