No money, no morals? Feeling strapped for cash may make you cheat, suggests new research from Canada.
In the study, most participants first said that financial deprivation is no excuse for immoral conduct. But when these folks lost money while playing a game, they were suddenly willing to be dishonest to restore their standing. “When we find ourselves in a situation we don’t like, it’s a very human state to feel motivated to improve it,” says study author Nina Mažar, Ph.D. And, sometimes, “improving” translates to “cheating.”
But rather than concede you’re doing wrong, you may simply shift your standards to accommodate your new behavior—especially if you believe your financial situation is unfair (as in, you should be paid more than your do-nothing coworker). “It’s easier for us to change our moral standards than to admit to ourselves that we are dishonest,” says Mažar. This might lead to “justified” misconduct—say, stealing supplies from your workplace, and thinking you deserve that box of pens. Or sabotaging a coworker, and feeling perfectly good about it
Because people tend to rationalize this type of behavior, it’s hard to be self-aware enough to rethink your thieving. That means the best defense is to avoid feeling squeezed in the first place. If you can’t change your salary, take advantage of any non-monetary benefits your office offers, such as flex hours, free snacks and coffee, or massages covered by your insurance plan. Extra perks, even if they don’t involve cash, can help you feel duly compensated—and less tempted to cheat.
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