In article about recent research into the contagious effects of self-control, Business Week quoted Michelle vanDellen, an assistant professor of psychology at UGA. The research found that people who interact regularly with others who exhibit self-control tend to pick up the trait. (See story).
“Before, we knew people tended to hang out with other people who were like themselves,” said vanDellen. “But in these studies, we actually show there is a direct effect of our friends’ behavior on our own behavior.”
The findings apply, she said, “not only to the people we [choose to] hang out with, but those we are forced to hang out with (such as co-workers).”
