The Effects of Extrinsic Values on Unethical Decision Making and Behaviour.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Behavioral Economics

Background:

• Unethical behaviors have serious consequences for individuals and society.
• Consumer-centric societies often link self-worth to wealth and appearance, promoting extrinsic values.
• Self-determination theory provides a framework for understanding motivation behind these behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between extrinsic values and unethical decision-making.
• To determine if this relationship is culture-independent.
• To establish a causal link between extrinsic cues and unethical behavior.

Main Methods:

• Study 1: Surveyed university students in Macao and UK crowdsourcing workers (N=1171) on values and unethical decision-making in scenarios.
• Studies 2 & 3: Experimental manipulation of extrinsic cues in Macanese (N=170) and British (N=197) participants to measure behavioral unethicality.

Main Results:

• Extrinsic values were significantly associated with unethical decision-making across both Chinese and British samples.
• Experimental manipulation of extrinsic cues increased unethical behavior, specifically lying for financial gain.
• The link between extrinsic values and unethicality appears to be culture-independent.

Conclusions:

• Extrinsic values significantly influence unethical behavior, independent of cultural context.
• Societal norms and consumerist cues emphasizing extrinsic values may undermine ethical standards.
• Addressing the societal emphasis on extrinsic values is crucial for collective well-being.