Citation

Pittarello A, Conte B, Caserotti M, Scrimin S, Rubaltelli E. Psychon. Bull. Rev. 2018; 25(1): 440-446.

Affiliation

Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Psychonomic Society Publications)

DOI

10.3758/s13423-017-1285-9

PMID

28409438

Abstract

We studied the emotional processes that allow people to balance two competing desires: benefitting from dishonesty and keeping a positive self-image. We recorded physiological arousal (skin conductance and heart rate) during a computer card game in which participants could cheat and fail to report a certain card when presented on the screen to avoid losing their money. We found that higher skin conductance corresponded to lower cheating rates. Importantly, emotional intelligence regulated this effect; participants with high emotional intelligence were less affected by their physiological reactions than those with low emotional intelligence. As a result, they were more likely to profit from dishonesty. However, no interaction emerged between heart rate and emotional intelligence. We suggest that the ability to manage and control emotions can allow people to overcome the tension between doing right or wrong and license them to bend the rules.

Language: en

Keywords

Arousal; Cheating; Emotional intelligence; Skin conductance; Unethical behavior