# When a few people break the rules, bad behavior spreads quickly

- Source: Phys.org
- Published: 2026-10-21T17:30:01+00:00
- Category: Science
- Original: https://phys.org/news/2026-10-people-bad-behavior-quickly.html
- Canonical: https://groundlevelnews.com/story/when-a-few-people-break-the-rules-bad-behavior-spreads-quickly-68d5f0/

The old saying that one bad apple spoils the barrel suggests that an individual behaving badly can have a negative influence on the entire group. The idea now has some fresh scientific backing.

_Ground Level News shows a short summary only; the full article and all rights belong to Phys.org._