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When it takes a bad person to do the right thing

Author

Listed:
  • Eric Luis Uhlmann

    (GREGH - Groupement de Recherche et d'Etudes en Gestion à HEC - HEC Paris - Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Luke Lei Zhu
  • David Tannenbaum

Abstract

Three studies demonstrate that morally praiseworthy behavior can signal negative information about an agent's character. In particular, consequentialist decisions such as sacrificing one life to save an even greater number of lives can lead to unfavorable character evaluations, even when they are viewed as the preferred course of action. In Study 1, throwing a dying man overboard to prevent a lifeboat from sinking was perceived as the morally correct course of action, but led to negative aspersions about the motivations and personal character of individuals who carried out such an act. In Studies 2 and 3, a hospital administrator who decided not to fund an expensive operation to save a child (instead buying needed hospital equipment) was seen as making a pragmatic and morally praiseworthy decision, but also as deficient in empathy and moral character.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric Luis Uhlmann & Luke Lei Zhu & David Tannenbaum, 2013. "When it takes a bad person to do the right thing," Post-Print hal-00772064, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00772064
    DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2012.10.005
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Moore, Alexander K. & Lewis, Joshua & Levine, Emma E. & Schweitzer, Maurice E., 2023. "Benevolent friends and high integrity leaders: How preferences for benevolence and integrity change across relationships," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    2. Andrea C Vial & Janine Bosak & Patrick C Flood & John F Dovidio, 2021. "Individual variation in role construal predicts responses to third-party biases in hiring contexts," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(2), pages 1-28, February.
    3. Wiltermuth, Scott S. & Vincent, Lynne C. & Gino, Francesca, 2017. "Creativity in unethical behavior attenuates condemnation and breeds social contagion when transgressions seem to create little harm," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 106-126.
    4. repec:jdm:journl:v:17:y:2022:i:6:p:1379-1391 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Lee, Jooa Julia & Gino, Francesca, 2015. "Poker-faced morality: Concealing emotions leads to utilitarian decision making," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 49-64.
    6. repec:cup:judgdm:v:17:y:2022:i:6:p:1379-1391 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Jim A. C. Everett & Clara Colombatto & Edmond Awad & Paulo Boggio & Björn Bos & William J. Brady & Megha Chawla & Vladimir Chituc & Dongil Chung & Moritz A. Drupp & Srishti Goel & Brit Grosskopf & Fre, 2021. "Moral dilemmas and trust in leaders during a global health crisis," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(8), pages 1074-1088, August.
    8. Andersson, Per A. & Erlandsson, Arvid & Västfjäll, Daniel & Tinghög, Gustav, 2020. "Prosocial and moral behavior under decision reveal in a public environment," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 87(C).

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