Texas A&M University (TAMU) MGMT363 Managing People in Organizations Exam 1 Practice Exam

Emotional contagion refers to the phenomenon where individuals mimic and adopt the emotions of those around them, often leading to a shared emotional experience among a group or team. This process can involve a wide range of feelings, which explains why both positive and negative emotions are typically involved.

When people encounter someone expressing joy, excitement, or enthusiasm, they are likely to share in that happiness, leading to uplifting and motivating social interactions. Conversely, if an individual is expressing sadness, frustration, or anger, those feelings can also spread to others, resulting in a collective experience of these negative emotions. This dynamic interplay shows that emotional contagion is not limited to just one type of feeling; instead, it encompasses the full spectrum of human emotions, affecting interpersonal relationships and group dynamics in diverse ways. Therefore, acknowledging the presence of both positive and negative emotions in this context is essential for understanding the impacts of emotional contagion in organizational settings.