Researchers suggest that some seemingly generous workplace behaviour, such as bringing cakes or doing favours, may be used strategically to improve status and reputation. The study describes this as “competitive altruism”, where kindness can help people build alliances or gain influence while concealing competitive motives.

A test involving more than 100 women identified several tactics, including offering food or gifts, performing friendliness, showing warmth selectively, assisting superiors and using kindness in female rivalry. Food, gifts or treats were the most commonly reported example, experienced by 33 per cent of participants, while higher scores were associated with self-described manipulation, deceptiveness and lower honesty.