Spot on for liars! How public scrutiny influences ethical behavior.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Ostermaier A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5513494 | biostudies-literature | 2017
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Spot on for liars! How public scrutiny influences ethical behavior.
Ostermaier Andreas A Uhl Matthias M
PloS one 20170717 7
We examine whether people are more honest in public than in private. In a laboratory experiment, we have subjects roll dice and report outcomes either in public or in private. Higher reports yield more money and lies cannot be detected. We also elicit subjects' ethical mindsets and their expectations about others' reports. We find that outcome-minded subjects lie less in public to conform with their expectations about others' reports. Ironically, these expectations are false. Rule-minded subject ...[more]
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