title: Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior.
abstract: Seven studies using experimental and naturalistic methods reveal that upper-class individuals behave more unethically than lower-class individuals. In studies 1 and 2, upper-class individuals were more likely to break the law while driving, relative to lower-class individuals. In follow-up laboratory studies, upper-class individuals were more likely to exhibit unethical decision-making tendencies (study 3), take valued goods from others (study 4), lie in a negotiation (study 5), cheat to increase their chances of winning a prize (study 6), and endorse unethical behavior at work (study 7) than were lower-class individuals. Mediator and moderator data demonstrated that upper-class individuals' unethical tendencies are accounted for, in part, by their more favorable attitudes toward greed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. paulpiff@gmail.com
authors.forename: Paul K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Piff
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Stancato
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Denton
authors.forename: Dacher
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keltner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001334:Automobile Driving; D004989:Ethics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012919:Social Behavior; D012923:Social Class; D055815:Young Adult