title: The Detrimental Effects of Oxytocin-Induced Conformity on Dishonesty in Competition.
abstract: Justifications may promote unethical behavior because they constitute a convenient loophole through which people can gain from immoral behavior and preserve a positive self-image at the same time. A justification that is widely used is rooted in conformity: Unethical choices become more permissible because one's peers are expected to make the same unethical choices. In the current study, we tested whether an exogenous alteration of conformity led to a lower inclination to adhere to a widely accepted norm (i.e., honesty) under the pressure of competition. We took advantage of the well-known effects of intranasally applied oxytocin on affiliation, in-group conformity, and in-group favoritism in humans. We found that conformity was enhanced by oxytocin, and this enhancement had a detrimental effect on honesty in a competitive environment but not in a noncompetitive environment. Our findings contribute to recent evidence showing that competition may lead to unethical behavior and erode moral values.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, Arizona State University.
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aydogan
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jobst
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, Arizona State University.
authors.forename: Kimberlee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: D'Ardenne
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich.|3 Marion von Tessin Memory Center, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: 4 Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna, Austria.|5 Department of Economics, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich.|6 Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg.
authors.forename: Martin G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kocher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008192:Deception; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009014:Morals; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012925:Social Conformity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: behavioral ethics; dishonesty; hormones; lying aversion; oxytocin