VOLUME LXVII | JUL 2022

Cognitive control and dishonesty

Dr. David Lowemann
Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering

Imagine the relationship between cognitive control and dishonesty as a complex dance. At first glance, it seems like dishonesty stems from a lack of willpower to resist selfish impulses. However, recent research unveils a more intricate picture. Cognitive control isn’t necessary for honesty or dishonesty itself, but its role depends on our individual ‘moral default’. For individuals prone to dishonesty, cognitive control can help them override their instincts and be honest. On the other hand, those who are already generally honest may utilize cognitive control to strategically cheat on occasion, gaining small benefits from acts of dishonesty. This insight challenges our simplistic view of dishonesty and highlights the nuances at play.

Exploring this research can offer valuable insights into the human mind and behavior, shedding light on why we sometimes make choices that deviate from our moral compass. By studying the role of cognitive control in dishonesty, scientists are uncovering new ways to understand and potentially remedy such behaviors. If you’re curious about the fascinating connection between cognitive control and dishonesty, dig deeper into the research!

Dishonesty is ubiquitous and imposes substantial financial and social burdens on society. Intuitively, dishonesty results from a failure of willpower to control selfish behavior. However, recent research suggests that the role of cognitive control in dishonesty is more complex. We review evidence that cognitive control is not needed to be honest or dishonest per se, but that it depends on individual differences in what we call one’s ‘moral default’: for those who are prone to dishonesty, cognitive control indeed aids in being honest, but for those who are already generally honest, cognitive control may help them cheat to occasionally profit from small acts of dishonesty.
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