Temptation shapes dishonesty and can alter working memory

Abstract This study shows that participants tend to remember an ambiguous, directional cue as biased towards stimuli associated with a high reward can be attained dishonestly. Participants saw eight digits presented in circular arrangement. On some trials, they were asked report the digit (“Target Digit”) indicated by jittery was slightly direction of another (“Second Cued Digit”), which either higher or lower than Target Digit. paid based on reported (higher meant pay) and not accuracy their report. In this setting, could make self-serving mistakes dishonestly reporting Second Digit when it Replicating prior work, frequently made such mistakes. other after disappeared, reproduce cue, without receiving any pay. Results showed participants’ reports more toward high-rewarding low-rewarding digits. research provides preliminary evidence link between attention, dishonesty, memory, offering important constraint for theories behavioral ethics.