2008/11/10 by Nina Mazar, Nina Mažar, On Amir +1 · 4 citations
Social Sciences · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · #Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies #Corruption and Economic Development #Taxation and Compliance Studies
paper · doi:10.1509/jmkr.45.6.633
People like to think of themselves as honest. However, dishonesty pays—and it often pays well. How do people resolve this tension? This research shows that people behave dishonestly enough to profit but honestly enough to delude themselves of their own integrity. A little bit of dishonesty gives a taste of profit without spoiling a positive self-view. Two mechanisms allow for such self-concept maintenance: inattention to moral standards and categorization malleability. Six experiments support the authors’ theory of self-concept maintenance and offer practical applications for curbing dishonesty in everyday life.