Are Rich People More Likely to Lie and Cheat?
Everybody loves to hate on rich people -- and they've certainly gotten their share of the blame for the still-ongoing financial crisis. But now, researchers find that upper-class people may indeed be more likely to lie and cheat, LiveScience reports.
"We're not saying that if you're rich, you're necessarily unethical, and that if you're poor, you're necessarily ethical -- there are lots of instances of increased ethical conduct among upper-class individuals, such as the tremendous philanthropy of Warren Buffett or Bill Gates," said researcher Paul Piff, a social psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, according to LiveScience.
Meanwhile, additional tests found that those who considered themselves upper class were more likely to make unethical decisions. We don't know about you, but we're scratching our heads over these findings. Perhaps rich people are just more used to getting what they want... so they're more willing to do whatever it takes to get it?
Yes
Side Score: 7
|
 |
No
Side Score: 7
|
|
|
|
|
2
points
1
point
1
point
1
point
You know what they say, power- in this case financial power- corrupts and makes you want even more. These people are used to getting anything and everything out of life. They're more likely- but not always- the type of people who would disregard another person's discomfort in their mission for eternal contentment. Sometimes they don't even consciously do it; it's almost like they're programmed to think: "I always get what I want so this should be no exception." Side: Yes
1
point
In society, the rich are almost always treated better by the law than the poor, or equally treated. If you reduce human consciousness to the base idea of self interest, it would stand to reason that they would therefore be less motivated to follow the law. I have yet to hear of any widespread human behaviour that is not rational on some level, however odd, counter-productive, or irrational, it may seem. This is just another example of that. Side: Yes
1
point
|
1
point
That is a stereotype to say that a rich man/woman will cheat. It is not true many poor people (and by poor i mean poor) cheat way more than rich ones. It depends on the person, a rich person can be self centred without any feelings for others as can a poor person. So no I don't think they are more likely to cheat. Side: No
|
