Shawns Lecture on Ethics

I am a liar.

Why we are unethical?

Cognitive Dissonance
Assumptions Behind Unethical Decisions: Assumption #1--Its a shortcut to success Assumption #2Advantages outweigh disadvantages

The Perceived Advantages

speed profit path of least resistance equity since others cheat (prisoners dilemma) no disadvantages if not caught

What it would look like

A structured response

What does it mean to be ethical?

Why does being ethical matter? How do we become more ethical?

Shawns Probability Measures

Chance of winning the Powerball Lotto

1 in 36,000,000

Chance of correctly predicting the entire NCAA basketball brackets?

1 in 36, 000, 000, 000

Chance of doing something unethical without suffering a cost?

Priceless. 0 in 36,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

Transcendental, Intuitive ethics

An intuitive moral compass Greatest leadership trait is trustworthiness (Den Hartog) Best leaders are servants who subjugate their own needs (Collins)

Priests score higher than CEOs on Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (Druskat)

Homers Theory on the Plight of American Workers

Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive

dissonance

Divided Soul of Corporate America (Mitroff and Denton) Majority feel cognitive dissonance (Renesch)
Dissonance

decreases morale, productivity and successful completion of tasks

The Psychological Toll of Being Unethical

The Psychological Toll of Being Unethical

Being Unethical Increases Autonomic Nervous System Stress

Lie detection as proof Small rationalized decisions still create stress

Autonomic Nervous System

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System

The Psychological Toll of Being Unethical

Sympathetic system is catabolic Stress decreases health Becomes a pattern Sympathetic Response Dominance

Negative Effects of the Soprano Effect

Fatigue Blood clotting High cholesterol Heart Disease Stroke Chronically tensed muscles Anxiety Depression Insomnia Obesity Increased sensitivity to pain

Lie Detector Documentary

If the Gamble Fails

Debating with the unethical choice

Rationales

Its a quick way to get ahead You make more money Im just one person The little stuff doesnt matter Its just one time

All of these are wrong.

Its a quick way to get ahead

No, it decreases the chance of success The costs to the organization

Undercut productivity and morale

Littles research on personal projects

Good ethics, like self-concordant goals

Higher success because of elevated mood, endurance and drive

But you make money

No, you lose money. A lot of money.
Increased turnover and training costs (Mayfield)
7 times more loyal if ethical High levels of loyalty = increase 11% productivity Low integrity = 34% more turnover

Hey, Im just one person

Yes, but youre the most important person Leaders have the biggest impact (Morgan)

Leaders influence ethics more than peers

Its small so it doesnt matter

Nope, just the opposite. The little stuff matters more than the big stuff Broken Window theory (Gladwell) Tipping point: the epidemiology of poor ethics

Its just one time

Wrong again. Single and small unethical decisions have global implications
Friendly FirePractical Drift (Snook)

How to Change Our Lyin Ways

Ethics are created only through habit and socialization Creation of intervening mechanisms Want to Know