Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior

2012/02/27 by Paul K. Piff, Daniel M. Stancato, Stéphane Côté +2 · 1 voice · 5 citations
Neuroscience · Decision Sciences · Social Sciences · #Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment #Ethics in Business and Education #Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies

paper · pdf · doi:10.1073/pnas.1118373109

openalex publication_date 2012/02/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22

Abstract

Seven studies using experimental and naturalistic methods reveal that upper-class individuals behave more unethically than lower-class individuals. In studies 1 and 2, upper-class individuals were more likely to break the law while driving, relative to lower-class individuals. In follow-up laboratory studies, upper-class individuals were more likely to exhibit unethical decision-making tendencies (study 3), take valued goods from others (study 4), lie in a negotiation (study 5), cheat to increase their chances of winning a prize (study 6), and endorse unethical behavior at work (study 7) than were lower-class individuals. Mediator and moderator data demonstrated that upper-class individuals' unethical tendencies are accounted for, in part, by their more favorable attitudes toward greed.

Citations

• Psychological Entitlement: Interpersonal Consequences and Validation of a Self-Report Measure
• Relationship of subjective and objective social status with psychological and physiological functioning: Preliminary data in healthy, White women.

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Discussions

• Petit florilège d'articles scientifiques aux titres fleuris sur un concept voisin de "pétro-virilité" : - Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior : doi.org/10.1073/pnas... - SUV dr [bsky, 0 points, 1 comments]