Why good people (pg 36-57)

A set of practice flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and experiments from Kaptein's 52 reflections on ethics at work. Each card poses a question about a concept and provides a concise answer for exam preparation.

What are the seven factors Kaptein identifies as influencing ethical behavior at work?

Clarity; Role-modeling; Achievability; Commitment; Transparency; Openness; Enforcement.

What is the difference between descriptive norms and injunctive norms?

Descriptive norms describe what people actually do; injunctive norms describe what people should do.

What is the Pygmalion effect?

A self-fulfilling prophecy where higher expectations lead to higher performance.

What is the Golem effect?

Lower expectations lead to worse performance.

What is the Galatea effect?

Self-image or belief in one’s own ethics drives behavior and can improve outcomes.

What is the Dodo effect in Kaptein’s framework?

A bias where people overestimate their own contributions, often rating themselves above average.

What does the warm glow theory propose?

There is no pure altruism; helping others is partly motivated by the warm glow or internal satisfaction.

What did the bagels-at-work experiment illustrate about honesty?

Most people pay for small temptations, but about one in seven do not pay, showing petty dishonesty occurs.

What did Warneken and Tomasello find about toddler helping?

Young children help strangers even without rewards, suggesting a natural altruism.

What does the broken window theory claim?

Disorder signals (like broken windows) encourage more crime, so fixing small signs reduces crime.

What is the four eyes principle?

Direct eye contact increases accountability and honesty; eyes watching can deter deceit.

What did the Ten Commandments experiment show about cheating?

Writing or thinking about the Ten Commandments reduced cheating in a subsequent task.

What is the foot-in-the-door tactic?

Ask for a small initial request to gain compliance and then escalate to larger requests.

What is the door-in-the-face tactic?

Start with a large request that is likely refused, then present a smaller request, which is accepted.

What is the warm glow theory’s basic claim about altruism?

People help others to feel good, even if there is no direct personal gain.

What is the “dodo” effect in self-knowledge and mirages?

People overestimate their own contributions and believe they contribute more than they actually do.

What is the “moral licensing” concept in transparency discussions?

When transparency makes people feel licensed to act unethically because they’ve disclosed information.

What is the “magnetic middle” effect?

People’s behavior shifts toward the group average when shown average norms, pulling toward the middle.

What is the “office as a reflection of the inner self” idea?

Office decor and architecture reflect and influence an organization’s values and culture.

How is ethical leadership defined by Kaptein?

Leaders with a moral compass and courage who model and push for higher ethical standards.

What does the Milgram-style obedience research illustrate about authority and morality?

Ordinary people can commit harmful acts under authority; responsibility can feel dispersed.

What does “trapped in the role: clothes make the man” mean?

Roles and uniforms shape behavior; attire can influence how people act and are perceived.

What does Kaptein say about power and hypocrisy?

Power can increase hypocrisy and double standards; powerful people may condemn others more than themselves.

What are “beeping bosses” in this context?

Powerful leaders may show aggressive, unclear, or reactive behavior; loud beeps correlate with insecurity.

What is the “fare dodgers and black sheep” phenomenon?

Model behavior can backfire; a rotten apple can contaminate or be resisted depending on context and group.

What is tunnel vision and teleopathy in goal setting?

Excessive focus on a single goal can blind people to other important factors; pursuit becomes goal-obsessed.

What is the meaning of “own goals” in Kaptein’s discussion?

Treating goals as ceilings; setting ambitious targets can provoke risky behavior; consider goal ladders.

What did Schwieren and Weichselbaumer find about competition and cheating?

Single-prize competition can increase cheating; a gradual reward structure plus collective targets works better.

What does “From Jerusalem to Jericho” study show about time pressure?

Time pressure reduces helping; having slack or extra time increases prosocial behavior.

What is the “moral muscle” idea?

Self-control requires rest and energy; sleep and glucose (sugar) support ethical decision making.

What are implementation plans and why are they important?

Concrete, written plans detailing where, when, and how to implement goals; without them, intentions fade.

What is the bystander effect and pluralistic ignorance?

Individuals are less likely to act when others are present; uncertainty and diffuse responsibility reduce action.

What is the value of appreciation (the Midas effect)?

Expressing appreciation boosts motivation and ethical behavior; small acts of kindness matter.

What is the Macbeth effect?

After wrongdoing, people are more likely to seek physical cleansing to restore moral balance.

What are punishment pitfalls and deterrence theory concerns?

Punishment can backfire; mild, well-timed sanctions are often more effective and less dissuasive.

What is the crowding-out effect?

Penalties or external rewards can crowd out intrinsic motivation and lead to worse long-term behavior.

What is the overjustification effect?

Extrinsic rewards can undermine intrinsic motivation; people begin to attribute actions to rewards rather than interest.

What is the Heinz dilemma about?

A classic moral development scenario used by Kohlberg to illustrate six stages across three levels (preconventional, conventional, postconventional).