Feeling entitled to more: ostracism increases dishonest behavior

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Ostracism, the experience of social exclusion, is a common human experience.
• Previous research suggests ostracism can negatively impact individuals' psychological states and behaviors.
• The specific mechanisms linking ostracism to increased dishonesty require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether ostracism enhances dishonest intentions and behaviors.
• To examine the mediating role of entitlement in the ostracism-dishonesty relationship.
• To explore whether framing ostracism as beneficial influences this relationship.

Main Methods:

• Five experiments were conducted involving participants who experienced ostracism, inclusion, or were in a control group.
• Participants' dishonest intentions were measured through self-report in Experiments 1-3.
• Dishonest behavior was assessed via a cheating task in Experiments 4 and 5, with entitlement measured as a potential mediator.

Main Results:

• Ostracized participants reported higher levels of dishonest intentions compared to included and control groups.
• Ostracized participants exhibited more cheating behavior to obtain undeserved monetary gains.
• Increased feelings of entitlement significantly mediated the link between ostracism and dishonesty.

Conclusions:

• Ostracism significantly increases dishonest intentions and behaviors, primarily through heightened feelings of entitlement.
• The mediating role of entitlement provides a key psychological mechanism explaining ostracism's impact on dishonesty.
• Framing ostracism positively can attenuate the relationship between ostracism, entitlement, and subsequent dishonest actions.