Aug 21, 2014 11:49 AM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Negativity at work can be a good thing, according to a recent study.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool found that the commonly-held assumption that positivity in the workplace produces positive outcomes, while negative emotions lead to negative outcomes, may be in need for reconsideration. This is partly due to this assumption failing to take into account the differences in work contexts which effect outcomes.

For the study, researchers developed a new line of study, and commissioned research to further explore the role of emotions in the workplace.

Researchers said anger does not always lead to negative outcomes and can be used as a force for good through acting upon injustices.

"In some cases, anger can be considered a force for good if motivated by perceived violations of moral standards," researchers said in the study. "An employee, for example, could express anger constructively after a manager has treated a fellow worker unfairly."

In such cases, anger can be useful to prevent these acts of injustice from repeating themselves in the future. Likewise, being too positive in the workplace, rather than resulting in greater well-being and greater productivity, can lead to complacency and superficiality.

One article within the Special Issue also finds that, within team situations, negativity can have a good affect, leading to less consensus and therefore greater discussion amongst workers which enhances team effectiveness.

"The findings of the studies published in this Special Issue challenge the widely held assumption that in the workplace positive emotions generate or engender a positive outcome, and vice versa," researcher Dirk Lindebaum said in a statement.

The findings were recently published in the journal Human Relations. 

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