GBN in Conversation: The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty (podcast)
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GBN in Conversation with Dan Ariely on The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty. In conversation with Andrew Blau
Most of us think of ourselves as honest, but, in fact, we all cheat. So claims Dan Ariely, the bestselling author of Predictably Irrational and The Upside of Irrationality. In his new book, The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty, Ariely challenges our preconceptions about dishonesty and urges us to take an honest look at ourselves.
From Washington to Wall Street, the classroom to the workplace, unethical behavior is everywhere. None of us is immune, whether it's the white lie to head off trouble or padding our expense reports. Yet, we tend to assume that cheating, like most other decisions, is based on a rational cost-benefit analysis.
Ariely argues, however, that it's actually the irrational forces that we don't take into account that often determine whether we behave ethically or not. For every Enron or political bribe, there are countless puffed resumes, hidden commissions, and knockoff purses. In The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty, Ariely describes why some things are easier to lie about; how getting caught matters less than we think; and how business practices pave the way for unethical behavior, both intentionally and unintentionally.
But all is not lost. Ariely also identifies what keeps us honest, pointing the way for achieving higher ethics in our everyday lives.
This conversation was recorded on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
About Dan Ariely
Dan Ariely is the most popular voice in behavioral economics. He is the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology & Behavioral Economics at Duke University, where he holds appointments at the Fuqua School of Business, the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, the School of Medicine, and the department of Economics. He is also a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight. His research has been published in leading psychology, economics, and business journals, as well as the popular press. He is also a regular contributor to NPR’s Marketplace.
Most of us think of ourselves as honest, but, in fact, we all cheat. So claims Dan Ariely, the bestselling author of Predictably Irrational and The Upside of Irrationality. In his new book, The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty, Ariely challenges our preconceptions about dishonesty and urges us to take an honest look at ourselves.
From Washington to Wall Street, the classroom to the workplace, unethical behavior is everywhere. None of us is immune, whether it's the white lie to head off trouble or padding our expense reports. Yet, we tend to assume that cheating, like most other decisions, is based on a rational cost-benefit analysis.
Ariely argues, however, that it's actually the irrational forces that we don't take into account that often determine whether we behave ethically or not. For every Enron or political bribe, there are countless puffed resumes, hidden commissions, and knockoff purses. In The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty, Ariely describes why some things are easier to lie about; how getting caught matters less than we think; and how business practices pave the way for unethical behavior, both intentionally and unintentionally.
But all is not lost. Ariely also identifies what keeps us honest, pointing the way for achieving higher ethics in our everyday lives.
This conversation was recorded on Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
About Dan Ariely
Dan Ariely is the most popular voice in behavioral economics. He is the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology & Behavioral Economics at Duke University, where he holds appointments at the Fuqua School of Business, the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, the School of Medicine, and the department of Economics. He is also a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight. His research has been published in leading psychology, economics, and business journals, as well as the popular press. He is also a regular contributor to NPR’s Marketplace.