Offensive Language and Impressions during an Interview

This study assessed the impact of offensive language used by male and female applicants in an employment interview. Using transcripts that controlled the presence or absence of offensive language and the sex of the job applicant, subjects rated the applicants for physical, social, and task attraction. Analysis indicated that offsensive language negatively affected impressions of the job applicant in terms of social attraction and task attraction (attractiveness of the person as a potential co-worker). No interaction was found.