Why You Aren’t as Ethical as You Think You Are - In Depth Notes

Many individuals, including executives, believe they are more ethical than their peers.
Surveys reveal discrepancies between self-assessment of ethics and actual behavior, highlighting a common belief in one's ethical superiority.

High School Survey:
- 66% of teens admitted to cheating on tests.
- 33% plagiarized online.
- 80% lied to parents.
- Despite this, 93% are satisfied with their ethical character.
Notable Cases:
- Kenneth Lay (Enron CEO): Claimed innocence despite evidence.
- Bill Clinton: Denied relations with Monica Lewinsky, rationalizing his behavior.
- Rod Blagojevich: Denied wrongdoing amidst accusations.

Innocence Claim: The person may genuinely believe in their ethical standpoint based on information unknown to the observer.
Damage Control: Acknowledgement that one is not ethical might lead to potential fallout or consequences.
Inherent Belief: Individuals might truly believe they are ethical, despite contradicting evidence.

People tend to predict ethical behavior but often act unethically in the moment.
After making decisions, individuals maintain a self-perception of ethics despite unethical choices.

Prediction Stage:
- People often mispredict their responses to ethical dilemmas, basing predictions on intentions rather than likely actions.
- Example: A female student anticipated confronting an inappropriate interviewer but did not do so in reality.
Decision-Making Stage:
- 'Want self' vs. 'Should self':
- The 'want self' (emotional, impulsive) often prevails during the decision-making phase.
- The 'should self' (rational, principled) influences predictive thinking but tends to fade during actual dilemmas.
Post-Decision Stage:
- Recollection biases where individuals rationalize unethical behavior after the fact.
- Psychological cleansing processes allow individuals to reconcile unethical actions and preserve self-image.