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.