'Ethical people' become worst cheats - Amazing new study by researchers. (highly recommended)

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Source: Indian Newspaper - The Times Of India

'Ethical people' become worst cheats17 Nov 2007, 0000 hrs IST

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(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/HealthScience/Ethical_people_become_worst_cheats/articleshow/2547041.cms

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People's

sense of moral superiority might lead them to rationalize bad behaviour, turning

them into cheats, a new research claims. The new study finds that the sense of

moral superiority can lead to unethical acts, such as cheating. In fact, some of

the best do-gooders can become the worst cheats, reports

 

LiveScience

 

..

When asked to describe

themselves, most people typically will rattle off a list of physical features

and activities (for example, "I do yoga" or "I'm a

paralegal"). But some people have what scientists call a moral identity,

in which the answer to the question would include phrases like "I am

honest" and "I am a caring person".

 

Past research has suggested

that people who describe themselves with words such as honest and generous are

also more likely to engage in volunteer work and other socially responsible

acts.

But often in life, the

line between right and wrong becomes blurry, particularly when it comes to

cheating on a test or in the workplace. For example, somebody could rationalise

cheating on a test as a way of achieving their dream of becoming a doctor and

helping people.

In the new

study, detailed in the November issue of the 'Journal of Applied

Psychology', researchers find that when this line between right and wrong

is ambiguous among people who think of themselves as having high moral

standards, the do-gooders can become the worst of cheaters.

"The principle we

uncovered is that when faced with a moral decision, those with a strong moral

identity choose their fate (for good or for bad) and then the moral identity

drives them to pursue that fate to the extreme," said researcher Scott

Reynolds of the University of Washington Business School in Seattle. "So

it makes sense that this principle would help explain what makes the greatest of

saints and the foulest of hypocrites."

Why would a person who thinks

of himself as honest cheat? The researchers suggest an "ethical

person" could view cheating as an OK thing to do, justifying the act as a

means to a moral end.

As

Reynolds put it: "If I cheat, then I'll get into graduate school,

and if I get into graduate school, then I can become a doctor and think about

all the people I'm going to help when I'm a

doctor."

"When

people have a strong moral identity, they think of themselves as great moral

people, their behavior tends to go to the extremes," Reynolds said.

A competitive playing field,

whether at a university or business, can also motivate cheating behaviors.

"Cheating is a way to

get ahead in a competitive environment where there are rewards for winning or

getting ahead of others," said Daniel Kruger, an evolutionary psychologist

at the University of Michigan, who was not involved in the current study.

"It seems like there is an increasing desire and expectation in our

society to 'be the best'."-- -----_/|\_ (Namaste) " Let Noble thoughts come to us from every side " . - RigVeda (1-89-i)