Study: Corporate Jargon Lovers Tend to Be Less Intelligent

Cornell research links enthusiasm for 'corporate bullshit' to weaker analytical skills and poor decision-making.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 8:05pm

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A new study from Cornell University has found a strong correlation between a person's positive opinion of corporate jargon and buzzwords, and their general weakness in analytical thinking and effective workplace decision-making. The study, led by cognitive psychologist Shane Littrell, involved over 1,000 office workers and found that those more receptive to 'corporate bullshit' performed significantly worse on tests of fluid intelligence and situational judgment.

Why it matters

The research suggests a concerning feedback loop where employees who are more susceptible to empty corporate rhetoric may help elevate dysfunctional leaders who rely heavily on such language, creating a cycle of inefficiency and poor decision-making within organizations.

The details

Littrell's study consisted of four interrelated tests to construct and validate a 'Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale.' Participants were asked to rate the 'business savvy' of fabricated corporate buzzword statements, rank real-world mission statements and general corporate speech, and complete fluid intelligence and situational judgment tests. The results showed that receptivity to corporate bullshit was the strongest negative predictor of decision-making performance, outpacing other factors.

  • The study was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences in February 2026.

The players

Shane Littrell

A postdoctoral psychology researcher at Cornell University's Department of Government who led the study.

Cornell University

The Ivy League research institution where the study was conducted.

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What they’re saying

“Corporate bullshit is a specific style of communication that uses confusing, abstract buzzwords in a functionally misleading way.”

— Shane Littrell, Postdoctoral psychology researcher

“Unlike technical jargon, which can sometimes make office communication a little easier, corporate bullshit confuses rather than clarifies. It may sound impressive, but it is semantically empty.”

— Shane Littrell, Postdoctoral psychology researcher

What’s next

Littrell hopes the research will encourage more critical thinking and humility when encountering corporate messaging, whether as an employee or consumer.

The takeaway

This study suggests that a fondness for empty corporate jargon may be a red flag for weaker analytical skills and poor decision-making abilities, highlighting the potential dangers of elevating such individuals within organizations.