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The victim matters: Experimental evidence on lying, moral costs and moral cleansing

Author

Listed:
  • Meub, Lukas
  • Proeger, Till
  • Schneider, Tim
  • Bizer, Kilian
Abstract
In an experiment on moral cleansing with an endogenously manipulated moral self-image, we examine the relevance of the addressee of an immoral action. The treatments differ such that cheating on a die roll reduces either the experimenter´s or another subject´s payoff. We find that cheating is highest and moral cleansing lowest when subjects cheat at the expense of the experimenter, while cheating is lowest and moral cleansing highest once cheating harms another subject. A subsequent measurement of subjects´ moral self-image supports our interpretation that the occurrence of moral cleansing crucially depends on the moral costs resulting from immoral actions directed at individuals in different roles. Our results can help to explain the different propensity to cheat and conduct moral cleansing when immoral actions harm either another person or the representatives of an organization.

Suggested Citation

  • Meub, Lukas & Proeger, Till & Schneider, Tim & Bizer, Kilian, 2015. "The victim matters: Experimental evidence on lying, moral costs and moral cleansing," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 233, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cegedp:233
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ellen Garbarino & Robert Slonim & Marie Claire Villeval, 2016. "Loss Aversion and lying behavior: Theory, estimation and empirical evidence," Working Papers halshs-01404333, HAL.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    dictator game; laboratory experiment; lying; moral balancing; moral; cleansing; self-image;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior

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