University of Berkeley Psychologists ask what it is about money that tends to inspire unethical ways?
A succession of psychological studies revealed that upper-class folks tend to behave more dishonestly than their lower-class counterparts. One of these studies included a rigged game of Monopoly in which one participant was chosen at random to be the wealthy player and the other the poorer player. The wealthily participant twice the amount of starting money, twice as much salary for passing “go,” a “wealthier” moving piece, and got to roll two dice. Even though the game was rigged for the wealthy player to win they still felt that they had earned their victory and were entitled to their Monopoly property. Now psychologists wonder what effect money has on the human mind: why do those who are wealthy (or made to feel so) tend to act dishonorably?
On another topic, what do these studies say about our growing wealth divide?
I’d always assumed being dishonest, people-using, thieving, arrogant, cheating and generally unethical was how people became wealthy in the first place, but maybe it’s a “vicious” circle. Good argument for not giving politicians a pay rise though isn’t it? 🙂