Research indicates that initial small acts of dishonesty can lead to significant and pervasive unethical behavior. Instead of viewing moral choices as part of a broader context, individuals often treat them as isolated events, which can compound unethical conduct. Unfair financial situations, selfish rewards, and gradual changes accelerate this moral detachment. The conclusions suggest that the impact of initial dishonest acts is significant, as they can become routine and escalate over time, thereby increasing overall unethical behavior.
Research by Crystal Reeck and Dan Ariely confirms Aristotle's assertion that small initial dishonesty can lead to significant moral deviations later. They emphasize that, unlike Aristotle's view that morality is a continuous context, individuals tend to see moral acts as isolated events. In their experiments, they found that individual dishonest acts are interconnected and promote widespread unethical behavior, often exacerbated by unfair circumstances and self-serving motivations.
The authors of the research concluded that dishonest acts can accumulate over time, resulting in pervasive and routine unethical behavior. They highlight that everyday moral choices are often influenced by minor dishonesties that seem inconsequential, suggesting a need to address the systemic factors encouraging this trend.
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