The Pot Calling the Kettle Black: Distancing Response to Ethical Dissonance

被引:113
作者
Barkan, Rachel [1 ]
Ayal, Shahar [3 ]
Gino, Francesca [4 ]
Ariely, Dan [2 ]
机构
[1] Ben Gurion Univ Negev, Guilford Glazer Sch Business & Management, Dept Business Adm, IL-84105 Beer Sheva, Israel
[2] Duke Univ, Fuqua Sch Business, Dept Mkt, Durham, NC 27706 USA
[3] Interdisciplinary Ctr Herzliya, Sch Psychol, Herzliyya, Israel
[4] Harvard Univ, Harvard Business Sch, Negotiat Org & Markets Unit, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
基金
美国国家科学基金会;
关键词
ethical dissonance; cognitive dissonance; moral judgment; impression management; unethical behavior; FUNDAMENTAL ATTRIBUTION ERROR; COGNITIVE-DISSONANCE; SOCIAL DESIRABILITY; SELF-REGULATION; MORAL SELF; BEHAVIOR; ATTITUDES; CHOICE; CREATIVITY; PSYCHOLOGY;
D O I
10.1037/a0027588
中图分类号
B84 [心理学];
学科分类号
04 ; 0402 ;
摘要
Six studies demonstrate the "pot calling the kettle black" phenomenon whereby people are guilty of the very fault they identify in others. Recalling an undeniable ethical failure, people experience ethical dissonance between their moral values and their behavioral misconduct. Our findings indicate that to reduce ethical dissonance, individuals use a double-distancing mechanism. Using an overcompensating ethical code, they judge others more harshly and present themselves as more virtuous and ethical (Studies 1, 2, 3). We show this mechanism is exclusive for ethical dissonance and is not triggered by salience of ethicality (Study 4), general sense of personal failure, or ethically neutral cognitive dissonance (Study 5). Finally, it is characterized by some boundary conditions (Study 6). We discuss the theoretical contribution of this work to research on moral regulation and ethical behavior.
引用
收藏
页码:757 / 773
页数:17
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