The relationship between a superior's own reinforcements and the subsequent reinforcements administered to a subordinate are investigated. Utilizing a simulated production/cost decision task and a symmetrical nonsaddle point decisional matrix design, data were collected on the economic and evaluative reinforcing behaviors of 126 subjects for 50 trials per subject. Two experimental conditions were evaluated differing only with respect to the reinforcement power of the superior. The findings suggest a significant differential use of positive and negative reinforcements, and of economic and evaluative reinforcements. In addition, a superior's reinforcing behavior was found to be significantly affected by conditions in which he must share reinforcement power with another superior. Reciprocity considerations were also tested, and were questioned as to their applicability in the negative range of outcomes. Several implications for administrative practice and future research are discussed.