Dishonesty's Slippery Slope
Episode Description
Everyone cheats a little from time to time. But most major betrayals within organizations -- from accounting fraud to doping in sports -- start with a first step that crosses the line, according to Dan Ariely, a leading behavioral economist at Duke and author of The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone -- Especially Ourselves. That step can start people on a "slippery slope." In this interview with management professor Adam Grant, Ariely helps leaders understand how to prevent people from taking that first step, how to create a code of conduct that makes rules and expectations clear and why good rules are critical to organizations. 📂 Leadership
Brief Summary
Dan Ariely discusses small cheating in organizations and the importance of clear conduct codes to prevent dishonesty.
Key points
- The Honest Truth About Dishonesty. Dan Ariely discusses the prevalence of dishonesty in organizations and its implications.
- Whistleblowers: Outsiders in Society. Ariely shares insights on the unique challenges faced by whistleblowers.
- The Importance of Clear Codes of Conduct. Ariely highlights the need for specific rules to prevent unethical behavior.
- The Slippery Slope of Cheating. Ariely explains how small unethical actions can lead to larger violations.
- The Future of Experimental Social Science. Imagining a future where various disciplines collaborate on policy experiments.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration. Advocating for the inclusion of diverse fields in social science.
Ask about Knowledge at Wharton
Episode highlights
- The Honest Truth About DishonestyDan Ariely discusses the prevalence of dishonesty in organizations and its implications.“The economic activity we need to worry about is all the little cheaters.”1:44Apr 2, 2014
- Whistleblowers: Outsiders in SocietyAriely shares insights on the unique challenges faced by whistleblowers.“Whistleblowers become outsiders to society.”4:39Apr 2, 2014
- The Importance of Clear Codes of ConductAriely highlights the need for specific rules to prevent unethical behavior.“We need to think about the code of conduct and how specific versus general it is.”5:15Apr 2, 2014
- The Slippery Slope of CheatingAriely explains how small unethical actions can lead to larger violations.“The first step is incredibly dangerous because it has tremendous ramifications.”10:25Apr 2, 2014
- The Future of Experimental Social ScienceImagining a future where various disciplines collaborate on policy experiments.“Together we build the right experiments and see what's working.”19:46Apr 2, 2014
- Interdisciplinary CollaborationAdvocating for the inclusion of diverse fields in social science.“Why not have philosophy and sociology?”20:00Apr 2, 2014
