Memories of unethical actions become obfuscated over time

Maryam Kouchaki*, Francesca Gino

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

98 Scopus citations

Abstract

Despite our optimistic belief that we would behave honestly when facing the temptation to act unethically, we often cross ethical boundaries. This paper explores one possibility of why people engage in unethical behavior over time by suggesting that their memory for their past unethical actions is impaired. We propose that, after engaging in unethical behavior, individuals' memories of their actions become more obfuscated over time because of the psychological distress and discomfort such misdeeds cause. In nine studies (n = 2,109), we show that engaging in unethical behavior produces changes in memory so that memories of unethical actions gradually become less clear and vivid than memories of ethical actions or other types of actions that are either positive or negative in valence. We term this memory obfuscation of one's unethical acts over time "unethical amnesia." Because of unethical amnesia, people are more likely to act dishonestly repeatedly over time.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6166-6171
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume113
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - May 31 2016

Keywords

  • Dishonesty
  • Memory
  • Morality
  • Psychological dissonance
  • Unethical behavior

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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