Abstract:
Recent studies in behavioral ethics reveal that the conflict between the desire to maintain a positive moral self-image and the desire to benefit from cheating behavior creates psychological tension, known as ethical dissonance. To reduce this tension and profit from dishonest behavior, people use various justifications. We suggest that certain justifications may lead to guilt-free dishonesty, allowing individuals to cheat more while feeling better about it. In this talk, we will focus on how motives like altruism and revenge can serve as justifications for cheating, discuss the theoretical and practical implications, and propose possible interventions to promote ethical behavior.
Bio:
Shahar Ayal is an associate professor at the School of Psychology, Reichman University (IDC), Herzliya, Israel. He is the Head of the MA program for Social Psychology and co- head of the DICE research center. Dr. Ayal specializes in behavioral ethics, judgment and decision-making. His recent work focuses on how people justify their unethical behavior and how these findings can be employed to encourage moral behavior.