The Double-Edged Sword: Frenemies, Social Comparison, and the Concealment of Knowledge

Abstract: Competitive dynamics are inherently relational, be it competing against a competitor, a rival, or a friend. In this paper, we introduce a paradoxical relational construct - frenemies - where simultaneous friendship and rivalry exist within a singular relationship. Through a Prolific study, we examined how individuals respond to different types of coworker relationships, and how their behaviour changes when asked for potentially competitively advantageous information. We find that frenemies experience greater social comparison concerns than friends or rivals. In high-stakes situations, such as when asked for information that may potentially hinder their own promotion opportunities at work, this self-evaluative and comparative state increases their propensity to engage in knowledge-hiding strategies, such as evasive hiding or playing dumb. Our research advances our understanding of competitive interpersonal dynamics by theorizing and testing the effects of an ambivalent relationship that coexists with feelings of rivalry and friendship.

Keywords: knowledge-hiding, rivalry, friendship, ambivalent relationships