Flashcards: Why Good People (Pages 13-35)

Practice flashcards covering core concepts, theories, experiments, and tools discussed in Kaptein's 52 reflections on ethics at work.

What are the seven factors Kaptein identifies that influence behavior at work?

Clarity, role-modeling, achievability, commitment, transparency, openness, and enforcement.

Define the Pygmalion effect as discussed in the book.

The phenomenon where higher expectations from leaders lead to higher performance because expectations shape behavior (self-fulfilling prophecy).

Define the Golem effect.

The opposite of Pygmalion: low expectations cause poorer performance and behavior to confirm those expectations.

What is the Galatea effect?

The influence of one's self-image on one's behavior; belief in one's own abilities boosts performance.

What does the warm glow theory propose about altruism?

There is no pure altruism; helping others yields an inner reward, the warmth or 'warm glow', which motivates helping.

What do Warneken and Tomasello’s experiments suggest about altruism in toddlers?

Young children help others even when there is no obvious reward, indicating a natural inclination toward altruism.

What does the 'bagels at work' study illustrate about honesty?

Most people pay for small items like bagels, but a noticeable minority do not; petty dishonesty occurs even in everyday work settings.

What is the 'moving figures on a wooden board' experiment about, and what was found?

Babies watched helpers and hinderers; they preferentially chose the helper, suggesting early empathy and moral evaluation.

What is integrity as supply and demand, illustrated by Lincoln's story?

Integrity can have a price; people resist temptation up to a point; Lincoln refused bribery, showing a price and a limit to integrity.

What does the Lincoln anecdote about temptation demonstrate?

Even highly principled individuals can be tempted; integrity is tested by the price one is willing to accept.

What is the chapter 'Egoism versus altruism: the theory of the warm glow and the helping hand' about?

Explores whether pure altruism exists; introduces warm glow (self-interest) versus altruistic helping; includes evidence for both.

What is the 'self-knowledge and mirages: the dodo effect'?

A bias where people overestimate their own virtues (self-serving bias); unpacking can reduce this illusion.

What is the 'unpacking' technique and its purpose?

Asking people to list others' contributions first to reduce self-overestimation and self-serving bias.

Explain 'Apples, barrels and orchards' in Kaptein's model.

Dispositional, situational, and systemic causes of behavior; culture and environment shape ethical behavior beyond individual character.

What are descriptive norms and injunctive norms?

Descriptive norms describe what people do; injunctive norms describe what people should do; both influence behavior.

What did Cialdini’s library flyer experiment demonstrate about normative activation?

Concrete, environment-linked norms have a stronger effect on behavior; activation at the decisive moment matters.

What is hypegiaphobia?

Fear of rules; too many rules can stifle initiative and increase rule-breaking, often in a curvilinear way.

What is reactance theory?

People resist threats to their freedom; stronger rules can trigger opposition and violations—the 'forbidden fruit' effect.

What is the bystander effect?

The more witnesses to a transgression, the less likely anyone is to intervene; often due to diffusion of responsibility.

What is the ‘broken window theory’ and its core claim?

Minor disorder signals that anything goes, leading to more serious crime; fixing small problems reduces larger ones.

What is the 'four eyes principle' (constrained by the eyes of strangers)?

Key decisions should involve at least two people looking each other in the eyes to increase accountability.

What is the 'Midas effect' in organizational ethics?

Appreciation and praise can increase ethical behavior and performance, though risks exist if it's perceived as superficial.

What is the 'Macbeth effect'?

A mental cleansing effect after wrongdoing, leading people to seek physical cleansing and sometimes reduced prosocial behavior afterward.

Describe the 'foot-in-the-door' and 'door-in-the-face' techniques and their link to self-perception.

Foot-in-the-door: small request leads to bigger requests; Door-in-the-face: large initial request followed by a smaller one; both influence self-perception and subsequent compliance.

What is the 'self-perception theory' in this context?

People come to see themselves in a certain way based on their actions, which then guides future behavior.

What does 'The future under control' emphasize about implementing ethical change?

Resolutions require concrete implementation plans and, ideally, public commitment to be sustained.

What is the 'crowding-out effect' in punishment and rewards?

External incentives (punishment or reward) can undermine intrinsic motivation and backfire when removed.

What are Kohlberg’s six stages in Heinz dilemma, and the three levels they span?

Preconventional (stages 1-2): self-interest and punishment; Conventional (stages 3-4): social approval and law/order; Postconventional (stages 5-6): social contract and universal ethical principles.

What is the 'Descriptive vs Injunctive norms' in practice (Summarize Keizer/Keizer experiments)?

Environmental cues and norms (descriptive) interact with explicit rules (injunctive); disorder can erode normative behavior, while tidy environments support it.

What is the 'four eyes' test in practice?

Two or more eyes (or people) are required to approve critical actions to improve integrity and reduce misconduct.

What is the 'Ten Commandments and fraud' experiment about?

Priming moral concepts (like the Ten Commandments) reduces cheating due to affective priming, not just cognitive recall.

What is the 'name of the game' and euphemisms in ethics?

Language often masks unethical behavior (euphemisms like 'earnings management'); naming games can influence behavior and normalize misconduct.

What is the 'the office as a reflection of the inner self' concept?

Office decor, layout, and personal items reveal organizational culture and personal ethics; a well-ordered environment can reflect and promote integrity.

What is the 'the bystander effect and pluralistic ignorance' interplay in organizations?

Pluralistic ignorance explains why people don’t act; reducing ambiguity and increasing safe reporting channels can counteract it.

What is the 'the moral compass of ethical leadership'?

Ethical leaders possess a clear moral direction, courage to act, and a willingness to push boundaries to improve ethics and integrity.

What does 'self-control and moral muscle' say about sleep and sugar?

Sleep deprivation and low blood sugar reduce self-control, increasing the likelihood of unethical behavior; proper rest and sugar intake can support ethical decisions.