Underestimating our influence over others' unethical behavior and decisions

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Behavioral Ethics

Background:

• Unethical acts often involve multiple individuals, including those who influence but do not directly commit the act.
• The psychological dynamics of these "instigators" and their impact on "actors" remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychology of instigators in unethical behavior.
• To determine if instigators underestimate their influence on actors.
• To understand how instigators perceive the social pressure they exert.

Main Methods:

• Four studies were conducted using university students and online samples.
• Methods included predicting ease of influence for unethical acts (white lies, vandalism) and responding to hypothetical unethical scenarios.
• Participants acted as instigators, suggesting unethical behaviors to others.

Main Results:

• Instigators consistently underestimated their influence over actors.
• Participants failed to recognize the social pressure and discomfort their unethical suggestions imposed.
• This underestimation occurred across various unethical acts, from minor deceptions to vandalism.

Conclusions:

• Instigators exhibit a blind spot regarding their persuasive power in unethical situations.
• Understanding this psychological bias is crucial for interventions aimed at preventing unethical behavior.
• Further research should explore the boundary conditions and consequences of this underestimation.