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Nighttime ethics: Do moral choices differ by time-of-day/night?

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  • David L. Dickinson

Abstract

We examine time-of-day (TOD) effects on moral choice by comparing afternoon (DAY: 3pm- 5pm) and nighttime (NIGHT: 3am-5am) decisions across three incentivized tasks. While the NIGHT treatment successfully induced sleepiness, we report no evidence that circadian suboptimality shifts decisions towards oneÕs default ethical tendencies. Rather, the NIGHT treatment increased dishonesty in a victimless Die-Roll task but not when dishonesty harms another participant (modified Coin-Flip task) or in consequential moral dilemmas affecting only othersÕ outcomes (Payoff-Trolley task). Exploratory evidence from response times suggests immorality results from deliberative processes. Overall, these results indicate that moral choice exhibits task-dependent stability during circadian fatigue. Key Words: behavioral economics, honesty, Trolley problem, moral choice, sleep

Suggested Citation

  • David L. Dickinson, 2026. "Nighttime ethics: Do moral choices differ by time-of-day/night?," Working Papers 26-07, Department of Economics, Appalachian State University.
    • Handle: RePEc:apl:wpaper:26-07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Urs Fischbacher & Franziska Föllmi-Heusi, 2013. "Lies In Disguise—An Experimental Study On Cheating," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 11(3), pages 525-547, June.
    2. Dickinson, David L. & McElroy, Todd, 2017. "Sleep restriction and circadian effects on social decisions," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 57-71.
    3. Dickinson, David L. & McElroy, Todd, 2019. "Bayesian versus heuristic-based choice under sleep restriction and suboptimal times of day," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 48-59.
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    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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