Workers who love ‘synergizing paradigms’ might be bad at their jobs

A Cornell study introduces the Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale (CBSR), a tool measuring how susceptible employees are to vague corporate jargon. Tested on over 1,000 office workers, the research found that those most impressed by meaningless buzzwords like 'synergizing paradigms' scored lower on analytic thinking, cognitive reflection, and workplace decision-making tests. These same workers rated jargon-heavy leaders as more charismatic and visionary, creating a negative feedback loop where BS-receptive employees elevate dysfunctional leaders who use more corporate BS. The study also links high BS receptivity to greater job satisfaction and likelihood of spreading the jargon further. Researchers suggest the scale could eventually help assess job candidates' analytical tendencies, and emphasize the broader importance of critical thinking when encountering organizational messaging.