Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior

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 laborator...

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Published inProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 109; no. 11; pp. 4086 - 4091
Main Authors Piff, Paul K, Stancato, Daniel M, Côté, Stéphane, Mendoza-Denton, Rodolfo, Keltner, Dacher
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States National Academy of Sciences 13.03.2012
National Acad Sciences
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
attitudes and opinions
Automobile Driving
Automobiles
Crosswalks
decision making
Ethical behavior
Ethical naturalism
Ethics
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Moral judgment
Pedestrian traffic
Social Behavior
Social Class
Social classes
Social ethics
Social Sciences
socioeconomic status
Upper class
Vehicles
Young Adult
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Summary: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.
Bibliography:http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1118373109
ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
Edited* by Richard E. Nisbett, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, and approved January 26, 2012 (received for review November 8, 2011)
Author contributions: P.K.P., D.M.S., S.C., and D.K. designed research; P.K.P. and D.M.S. performed research; P.K.P. analyzed data; and P.K.P., D.M.S., S.C., R.M.-D., and D.K. wrote the paper.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1118373109