Looking at "Why We Lie" by Dan Ariely

To summarize the article “Why we lie.” By Dan Ariely from the Bedford reader, it is in human nature to be dishonest in one capacity or another. The rate at which people are dishonest is often affected by external factors. If a person observes someone else being dishonest they are more likely to be dishonest (Bedford 443) Or if one person thought another person, or a group of people could benefit from their dishonesty they’d be more prone to being false in reporting. (Bedford 445)

In paragraph ten of Ariely’s work he explains that we know that most people cheat, which then begs the question: What affects peoples’ willingness to lie? Throughout the article the study endeavors to see if the frequency of wrongfully reported information is related directly to the perceived cost or benefit of the falsehood.

During the study they performed a “Matrix Test” where participants were asked to self-report the number of correctly solved equations in a pre-allocated amount of time. When a student thought that they could inaccurately report, they often did. They wrongfully reported in larger numbers when the payout was a lower financial compensation than when it was higher; But, in higher percentages when it was an indirect payout. If the participant was paid with tokens that were then traded for cash, they reported more success than they had. When the person providing the test/reward was blind, the participants also reported more success than was truthful.

Interestingly how the honesty system was structured played a role in how information was reported. When the study incorporated theology by asking pupils to recall the ten commandments or to swear on the bible, all participants – even self-reported atheists were 100% honest (Bedford 444) However on a form that is seemingly innocuous like an insurance form, simply moving the signature line to the top of the form from the bottom resulted in more honesty. (Bedford 444)

My favorite part of the article was something that I took as a call to action. The author states “…although it is obviously important to pay attention to flagrant misbehaviors, it is probably even more important o discourage the small and more ubiquitous forms of dishonesty…” (Bedford 446) I found this concept striking because I believe it to be not only relevant to honesty but pretty universally true of all aspects of life - it is often made up of the small things.

 

Works cited:

                Kennedy, X. J., Dorothy M. Kennedy, and Ellen Kuhl Repetto. The Bedford Reader. 12th ed. New York: Bedfords/St. Martin's, 2013. Print.


I commented on Garret's Blog and also on Michael H's blog