Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior

被引:569
作者
Piff, Paul K. [1 ]
Stancato, Daniel M. [1 ]
Cote, Stephane [2 ]
Mendoza-Denton, Rodolfo [1 ]
Keltner, Dacher [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Calif Berkeley, Dept Psychol, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
[2] Univ Toronto, Rotman Sch Management, Toronto, ON M5S 3E6, Canada
基金
美国国家科学基金会;
关键词
socioeconomic status; immoral action; ethical judgment; self-interest; DECISION-MAKING; COGNITIVE MODEL; POWER; GREED; SELF;
D O I
10.1073/pnas.1118373109
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
Seven studies using experimental and naturalistic methods reveal that upper-class individuals behave more unethically than lower-class individuals. In studies 1 and 2, upper-class individuals were more likely to break the law while driving, relative to lower-class individuals. In follow-up laboratory studies, upper-class individuals were more likely to exhibit unethical decision-making tendencies (study 3), take valued goods from others (study 4), lie in a negotiation (study 5), cheat to increase their chances of winning a prize (study 6), and endorse unethical behavior at work (study 7) than were lower-class individuals. Mediator and moderator data demonstrated that upper-class individuals' unethical tendencies are accounted for, in part, by their more favorable attitudes toward greed.
引用
收藏
页码:4086 / 4091
页数:6
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