Wealth and Morality

[Anonymous]

http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/27/10512938-rich-people-more-likely-to-cheat-behave-badly-research-finds

I realize that this is probably going to blow up, but I feel pretty strongly about the subject.

This article describes three separate studies which participants were given an opportunity to do the honest thing or to cheat. The surprising result was that people in upper income levels were the most likely to cheat. In the first study, individuals had the opportunity to tell the truth or cheat in a game for a $50 gift card. In the second, they were tested as to whether they would lie to an employee in order to convince a person to accept a job. In the third, researchers measured how frequently a person would run through a crosswalk, and then compared results by the value of the car involved.

First, before everyone gets crazy, their idea of wealth is not DC uberwealth. They are talking about families very much in the DCUM demographic. Second, I am a wealthy person and so this data reflects on people like me.

I think that there is a moral challenge represented by money. I don't know what it is. Part of me reflects on the bible passages about wealth, which even Christians seem to brush aside when looking for guidance. Part of me reflects on the perception that poor people are criminals. While some are, it appears that the average wealthy person is more willing to use small acts of dishonesty to their advantage in daily life than the average person of limited means.

It is something that causes me to think hard about how I live. What do others think?

[Anonymous]

Just a little more propaganda to pit the poor against the rich......

[Anonymous]

entitlement

[Anonymous]

As Balzac put it, "Behind every great fortune lies a great crime."

[Anonymous]

Is this maybe b/c wealthier people know they can talk their way out of things or have the resources to escape punishment, while poorer people know rightly they would be punished more severely if caught?

[Anonymous]

I am not sure about the other two examples, but aren't moderately successful people more likely to have conducted an interview before. I am pretty sure that everyone "lies" during an interview in the sense that they tell the candidate the rosiest possible scenario for how the job will work out - "this is a family-friendly workplace," or "the benefits people are really helpful in getting your preexisting condition covered," etc.

I am not sure discrepancies in this area are the product or money, but rather of experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a little more propaganda to pit the poor against the rich......

Since when is data propaganda?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure about the other two examples, but aren't moderately successful people more likely to have conducted an interview before. I am pretty sure that everyone "lies" during an interview in the sense that they tell the candidate the rosiest possible scenario for how the job will work out - "this is a family-friendly workplace," or "the benefits people are really helpful in getting your preexisting condition covered," etc.

I am not sure discrepancies in this area are the product or money, but rather of experience.

It seems like the dilemma posed in that study was fairly obvious though. I don't know if experience is required. But maybe people with hiring experience are conditioned to believe it is OK.

[Anonymous]

Since when is data propaganda?

Because data can and is manipulated all of the time.

[Anonymous]

In your third example (running through crosswalks) I'd think it's because wealthy people can more easily afford a ticket. If you're making $100K/yr, a $50 ticket hurts much less than if you're making $40K/yr or $20K/yr.

Wealthy people can take on more risk because they can afford the consequences more easily.

I'm not sure about the other two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In your third example (running through crosswalks) I'd think it's because wealthy people can more easily afford a ticket. If you're making $100K/yr, a $50 ticket hurts much less than if you're making $40K/yr or $20K/yr.

Wealthy people can take on more risk because they can afford the consequences more easily.

I'm not sure about the other two.

I think in the third example it says more about personalities that chose expensive cars rather than income per se. We have a good income but drive a modest car. My brother, who can be a jerk sometimes, earns much much less but has a more expensive car. Car choice might be more closely correlated with personality rather than income.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't believe you are at all wealthy. You sound very bitter and determined to troll.

I know plenty of wealthy people. They are the kindest most down to earth people I know. They were handed nothing and are grateful for even last thing they have.

****But I am smart enough never to cross them......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't believe you are at all wealthy. You sound very bitter and determined to troll.

I know plenty of wealthy people. They are the kindest most down to earth people I know. They were handed nothing and are grateful for even last thing they have.

****But I am smart enough never to cross them......

For real? Some of the wealthiest people I know were handed everything, they inherited their wealth, have zero work ethic, are entitled and have lived in a cocoon their whole lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't believe you are at all wealthy. You sound very bitter and determined to troll.

I know plenty of wealthy people. They are the kindest most down to earth people I know. They were handed nothing and are grateful for even last thing they have.

****But I am smart enough never to cross them......

OP posted a legitimate study and wanted to discuss the findings. Nothing about her pots suggested troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/27/10512938-rich-people-more-likely-to-cheat-behave-badly-research-finds

I realize that this is probably going to blow up, but I feel pretty strongly about the subject.

This article describes three separate studies which participants were given an opportunity to do the honest thing or to cheat. The surprising result was that people in upper income levels were the most likely to cheat. In the first study, individuals had the opportunity to tell the truth or cheat in a game for a $50 gift card. In the second, they were tested as to whether they would lie to an employee in order to convince a person to accept a job. In the third, researchers measured how frequently a person would run through a crosswalk, and then compared results by the value of the car involved.

First, before everyone gets crazy, their idea of wealth is not DC uberwealth. They are talking about families very much in the DCUM demographic. Second, I am a wealthy person and so this data reflects on people like me.

I think that there is a moral challenge represented by money. I don't know what it is. Part of me reflects on the bible passages about wealth, which even Christians seem to brush aside when looking for guidance. Part of me reflects on the perception that poor people are criminals. While some are, it appears that the average wealthy person is more willing to use small acts of dishonesty to their advantage in daily life than the average person of limited means.

It is something that causes me to think hard about how I live. What do others think?

I did one of these games once in such an experiment. We played various games and in one particular game - the cheating strategy was really fun and there was no real-life consequence to cheating. In the beginning we just played. Towards the end, there were prizes for winning/losing or for cheating versus not cheating. When the prizes were 2 M&M I still cheated but once they started to offer me more than $1 for not cheating, as a poor grad. student I stopped cheating. Today I would keep playing the game - it was fun to break the rules. But here is the thing other than not getting the prize there were no reallife consequences for me or for anyone else as a result of my cheating - I played against a computer so it is not like in real life when if you cheat someone else loses out. Anyway my point is that with a clever experiment design it would be easy to get the result that the rich cheat more but this says nothing about real life.