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An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
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Cognitive control and dishonesty.

Sebastian P H Speer1, Ale Smidts2, Maarten A S Boksem2

  • 1Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Social Brain Lab, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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Cognitive control doesn't determine honesty, but overrides your moral default. It helps dishonest individuals be honest and honest individuals to occasionally cheat for profit.

Keywords:
cheatingcognitive controldishonestyindividual differencesneuroimaging

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Economics

Background:

  • Dishonesty is prevalent, causing significant societal costs.
  • The role of cognitive control in dishonesty is complex and not fully understood.
  • Intuition suggests dishonesty stems from a lack of willpower against selfish impulses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence on the intricate relationship between cognitive control and human (dis)honesty.
  • To explore how individual differences in 'moral defaults' modulate the function of cognitive control in ethical decision-making.
  • To challenge the simplistic view of cognitive control as solely a restraint on selfish behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review synthesizing existing research on cognitive control and moral behavior.
  • Analysis of studies examining the interplay between executive functions and honesty/dishonesty.
  • Theoretical integration of findings to propose a novel framework for understanding cognitive control's role.

Main Results:

  • Cognitive control is not inherently required for either honest or dishonest actions.
  • Its function is contingent upon an individual's baseline 'moral default'.
  • For individuals predisposed to dishonesty, cognitive control facilitates honesty.
  • For inherently honest individuals, cognitive control can enable occasional, minor dishonest acts for personal gain.

Conclusions:

  • Cognitive control's primary role in (dis)honesty is to override an individual's moral default.
  • This finding reframes our understanding of self-control and ethical decision-making.
  • Individual moral predispositions significantly influence how cognitive control is utilized in behavior.