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The pot calling the kettle black: distancing response to ethical dissonance.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Barkan, R; Ayal, S; Gino, F; Ariely, D
Published in: Journal of experimental psychology. General
November 2012

Six studies demonstrate the "pot calling the kettle black" phenomenon whereby people are guilty of the very fault they identify in others. Recalling an undeniable ethical failure, people experience ethical dissonance between their moral values and their behavioral misconduct. Our findings indicate that to reduce ethical dissonance, individuals use a double-distancing mechanism. Using an overcompensating ethical code, they judge others more harshly and present themselves as more virtuous and ethical (Studies 1, 2, 3). We show this mechanism is exclusive for ethical dissonance and is not triggered by salience of ethicality (Study 4), general sense of personal failure, or ethically neutral cognitive dissonance (Study 5). Finally, it is characterized by some boundary conditions (Study 6). We discuss the theoretical contribution of this work to research on moral regulation and ethical behavior.

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Published In

Journal of experimental psychology. General

DOI

EISSN

1939-2222

ISSN

0096-3445

Publication Date

November 2012

Volume

141

Issue

4

Start / End Page

757 / 773

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Social Perception
  • Social Behavior
  • Self Concept
  • Psychological Tests
  • Metaphor
  • Male
  • Judgment
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

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Barkan, R., Ayal, S., Gino, F., & Ariely, D. (2012). The pot calling the kettle black: distancing response to ethical dissonance. Journal of Experimental Psychology. General, 141(4), 757–773. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027588
Barkan, Rachel, Shahar Ayal, Francesca Gino, and Dan Ariely. “The pot calling the kettle black: distancing response to ethical dissonance.Journal of Experimental Psychology. General 141, no. 4 (November 2012): 757–73. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027588.
Barkan R, Ayal S, Gino F, Ariely D. The pot calling the kettle black: distancing response to ethical dissonance. Journal of experimental psychology General. 2012 Nov;141(4):757–73.
Barkan, Rachel, et al. “The pot calling the kettle black: distancing response to ethical dissonance.Journal of Experimental Psychology. General, vol. 141, no. 4, Nov. 2012, pp. 757–73. Epmc, doi:10.1037/a0027588.
Barkan R, Ayal S, Gino F, Ariely D. The pot calling the kettle black: distancing response to ethical dissonance. Journal of experimental psychology General. 2012 Nov;141(4):757–773.

Published In

Journal of experimental psychology. General

DOI

EISSN

1939-2222

ISSN

0096-3445

Publication Date

November 2012

Volume

141

Issue

4

Start / End Page

757 / 773

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Social Perception
  • Social Behavior
  • Self Concept
  • Psychological Tests
  • Metaphor
  • Male
  • Judgment
  • Humans
  • Female