Dishonesty and unconscious mind processes
: effects of mood induction by news

  • Inês Pinto Soares de Melo (Student)

Student thesis: Master's Thesis

Abstract

This work analyses the importance of automatic and rapid processes in people’s thinking, in contrast with rational, slower mindsets, using Kahneman (2011) characterization of two systems (system 1: fast; system 2: slow), Ariely (2012) dishonesty main drives and Moore and Gino (2015) psychological framework of unethical behavior, considering the importance of non-conscious processes. People do not always make decisions and judgements in conscious ways. Sometimes they are guided by unaccountable cues and thoughts, leading them to different paths and consequences. The experiment of this work examines the effects of mood induction by the news upon individuals’ judgements regarding dishonesty. Based on the academic literature, this work analyses the background of behavioral economics and dishonesty, the underlying aspects and motivations that causes people to cheat and ways to improve one’s understanding in order to restrain dishonesty. The results suggest that the positive/negative news primes positive/negative moods, and, when in a negative mood, forms subsequent judgements in the same direction, comparing to absence of any news.
Date of Award12 Jul 2016
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • Universidade Católica Portuguesa
SupervisorCarlos Eduardo Evangelista Mauro (Supervisor)

Keywords

  • Dishonesty
  • Cheating
  • Affect
  • Emotions
  • Unethical behavior

Designation

  • Mestrado em Gestão

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