A group of psychologist at UC Berkeley have been studying the relation between ethical behavior and income levels. Interestingly those who were categorized as upper class were more likely to behave unethically than those categorized as lower class. Does an excess of money turn people into dishonest individuals? I don't think you can generalize but the video below shows some intriguingg (to me at least) findinigs; e.g. who would have thought richer people were much more likely to take candy meant for children than poorer people :O


Money on the Mind - YouTube

[lizardlady]

Interesting Chocomouse. The video supports what I was thinking. Poorer folks are more likely to have empathy and compassion. Wealthier folks are more likely to look out for themselves.

I have experienced similar things as well and can't quite figure out why wealthier people don't feel the need to help others. It's heartwarming when you see poorer people sharing their food with someone else or offering their time/skills to help others who are worse off then they are.

[Inedible]

Money is power and power corrupts. It gives a sense of being in control and independent. Having money leads to wanting more money, and to concern for losing what they already have. It isolates people. It is hard to have a sense of ethics when everyone is either a source of more money or a threat to the money they already have.

[Perna]

"They" say, the love of money is the root of all sorts of evils. . .

I'd have to see what behavior they were deciding was ethical/unethical and what the reason for the behavior was, etc. It is harder to "get in trouble" if you don't have many resources? It's not ethical to rob people or steal cars either and I don't think many people with money do that? I think there might be a "white collar" definition of "ethical". I have yet to watch a "Cops" show where the guys they caught started out telling the truth?

Yes it isn't always clear where the line between ethical and unethical is and it can vary according to social groups. But when it comes to social norms agreed upon (such as stopping the car at a zebra crossing) there is no excuse.
Are you talking about white collar crimes (e.g. money laundering or fraud)?If so those actions that are caught by the law are punished with anything between fines and imprisonment.

[Perna]

There is theft and then there is theft? Have you seen the 1-800-DENTIST commercial where they make it look funny that the "cube mate" gets his "free" batteries out of the supply cabinet at work? "I don't know a good dentist but I know where you can score free batteries". That's "trivial" white collar crime (versus the guys that stole the catalytic converters out of all the trucks at the engineering company where I worked Six charged in two catalytic converter theft rings) but is the attitude that leads to further unethical behavior.

In the end, a lot of things turn out to be about money but not necessarily "rich" versus "poor". The guys in the catalytic converter rings are not "rich" but they are stealing for the "easy" money? How ethical is it to have lotteries when the majority of people playing have no clue about statistics? It makes me sick when they list the "hot" numbers and "cold" numbers and there's no such thing. It's an unethical lie. That and saying the money goes to education when they don't make sure the citizens are educated in statistics and the stupidity of gambling against the house.

Are you talking about white collar crimes (e.g. money laundering or fraud)?If so those actions that are caught by the law are punished with anything between fines and imprisonment.

I'm not sure that it really turns out that way very often chocmouse