Scientists at University of California target life sciences.

According to recent research published in the Negotiation Journal, "We begin by exploring the lay belief that women can use flirtation to their advantage in professional contexts and contrast it with trained negotiators' negative views on flirtation. We then examine the impact of flirtation on negotiators' impression formation."

"We explore whether a flirtatious style aids women in the trade-off they often face between perceived likability and perceived competence. We discover both an upside and a downside to flirting at the bargaining table," wrote L.J. Kray and colleagues, University of California (see also Life Sciences).

The researchers concluded: "Although flirtation appears to be positively related to women's likability, negotiators who ...