Slippery slopes and misconduct

Description

"Four laboratory studies show that people are more likely to accept others' unethical behavior when ethical degradation occurs slowly rather than in one abrupt shift. In the studies, participants served in the role of watchdogs charged with catching cheating in a series of trials. The cheating they observed increased either gradually or abruptly; people were more likely to overlook cheating that increased gradually. Our studies also provide evidence as to why people accept cheating by others. Our results indicate that the effect is due at least in part to the failure to notice that unethical behavior is occurring when the change is gradual rather than abrupt."

Description

The present laboratory study shows that people are more likely to act unethically by accepting the incorrect assessments of others when the behavior of others erodes slowly rather than in one abrupt shift. Each of two subjects had to either accept or reject multiple estimates about the amount of money contained in a jar. Estimates varied round by round. The estimates of the other party moved in a self-serving direction either gradually or abruptly. The results suggest that people are less likely to notice and react to the unethical behavior of others if the unethical behavior develops gradually over time than if the unethical behavior occurs abruptly.

Subjects

Series Statement

• Working paper / Division of Research, Harvard Business School -- 06-007

Other Editions

• Slippery slopes and misconduct: the effect of gradual degradation on the failure to notice unethical behaviorDivision of Research, Harvard Business School2005-01-01
• Slippery slopes and misconductDivision of Research, Harvard Business School2006-01-01