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DENIAL: A conceptual framework to improve honesty nudges.

Samuel E Skowronek¹

¹Operations, Information, & Decisions Department, Wharton School the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.

Current Opinion in Psychology

|September 14, 2022

Summary

This study introduces the DENIAL framework, identifying four psychological justifications people use to rationalize unethical behavior while maintaining a positive self-image. Understanding these denial mechanisms is key to developing effective strategies against dishonesty.

Keywords:

Deception Dishonesty Ethical decision making Intervention Justification Moral Disengagement Theory Neutralization Theory Nudge Unethical behavior

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Area of Science:

Behavioral Ethics
Social Psychology
Moral Psychology

Background:

Existing strategies to reduce dishonesty have shown limited effectiveness.
There is a need to understand the psychological underpinnings of dishonest behavior.
Behavioral ethics scholars advocate for deeper investigation into the mechanisms of dishonesty.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce a novel conceptual framework, DENIAL, explaining psychological mechanisms of dishonesty.
To identify four fundamental justifications people use to rationalize unethical actions.
To inform the development of more effective dishonesty mitigation strategies.

Main Methods:

A conceptual framework, DENIAL, was developed.
The framework was derived from a comprehensive review of scholarship in cognate fields.
Theoretical foundations include Moral Disengagement Theory and Neutralization Theory.

Main Results:

Identified four core justifications for dishonesty within the DENIAL framework: Victim (They Deserve it), Environment (I blame my Environment), Injury (I cause No Injury), and Allegiances (I have other ALlegiances).
These justifications allow individuals to perceive themselves as ethical despite engaging in unethical conduct.
The framework provides a structured understanding of how people rationalize their dishonest actions.

Conclusions:

The DENIAL framework offers a new perspective on the psychological processes enabling dishonesty.
Understanding these denial mechanisms is crucial for designing interventions that effectively counter unethical behavior.
Future research and strategies can leverage these identified justifications to improve efficacy in mitigating dishonesty.