Why Do People Use More Jargon in Their Work?

Madu Bakanola: People are stiffening up as they prepare to write something. He says there's an explanation for this phenomenon that Adam Gilinski at Columbia Business School examined. They found people who were low in status would be more likely to use jargon because they want to appear smart relative to those high in status. Madu: When you use excessive jargon, not only are you burying your point, but people may view you as someone who is overcompensating.