RICHER PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO STEAL AND ROB – 7 STUDIES AT  UC BERKLEY RESEARCH

7 Studies:  Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/02/21/1118373109.full.pdf+html

Paul K. Piffa, Daniel M. Stancatoa, Stéphane Côtéb, Rodolfo Mendoza-Dentona, and Dacher Keltnera, Department of Psychology, UC- Berkeley and Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada in 2011 

Review November 8, 2011

7 Studies prove Upper-class individuals behave more unethically than lower- class individuals. 

Upper-class individuals more likely to break the law and exhibit unethical decision-making tendencies:

Take valued goods from others

Lie in a negotiation

Cheat to increase their chances of winning a prize or contract

Endorse unethical behavior at work 

A financial incentive = more willing to deceive and cheat others for personal gain

Mere presence of money = Cheat for a larger financial reward 

Greed leads to reduced concern for how one’s behavior affects others

Upper-class unethical tendencies accounted for by their more favorable attitudes toward greed.

Upper-class associated with unethical behavior, or actions that harm others and are illegal or morally objectionable to one’s community = cheating, deception, or breaking the law that have important consequences for society = Upper class resources, freedom, and independence from others give rise to self-focused tendencies which facilitate un-ethical behavior.

Upper-class individuals are more disengaged during social interactions—for example, checking their cell phones or doodling on a questionnaire—compared with their lower-class peers.

Upper-class are also less generous and altruistic = proved more selfish – keeping more for themselves to exchange for cash = Results parallel nationwide survey 

Upper-class value their own welfare over the welfare of others = positive attitudes toward greed, a robust determinant of unethical behavior. 

Even Plato and Aristotle deemed greed = Root of personal immorality + drives desires for material gain at the expense of ethical standards = abandon moral principles in their pursuit of self-interest