The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone - Especially Ourselves
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Author Description
Fascinating and provocative, Ariely's The Truth About Dishonesty is an insightful and brilliantly researched take on cheating, deception and willpower. Internationally bestselling author Ariely pulls no punches when it comes to home truths. Previous titles PREDICTABLY IRRATIONAL and THE UPSIDE OF IRRATIONALITY have becomes classics in their field, revealing unexpected and astonishing traits that run through modern humankind. Now acclaimed behavioural economist Dan Ariely delves deeper into the dark and murky recesses of contemporary psychology, daring to ask the big questions: What makes us cheat? How and why do we rationalise deception of ourselves and other people, and make ourselves 'wishfully blind' to the blindingly obvious? What affects our infuriatingly intangible willpower and how can we 'catch' the cheating bug from other bad apples? If you've ever wondered how a whole company can turn a blind eye to evident misdemeanours within their ranks, whether people are born dishonest and whether you can really be successful by being totally, brutally honest, then Dan has the answers, and many more.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the psychological mechanisms that drive human dishonesty and the cognitive processes that allow individuals to rationalize deceptive behavior while maintaining a positive self-image. Dan Ariely, a prominent behavioral economist, utilizes a series of controlled experiments and empirical data to challenge the traditional economic view that cheating is purely a cost-benefit calculation. He argues that most people cheat only a little, constrained by their internal desire to view themselves as honest, and explores how environmental factors and social cues influence these moral boundaries.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the 'fudge factor' and how it allows individuals to justify minor acts of dishonesty.
- Examination of how social contagion and the behavior of peers influence personal integrity.
- Discussion of the role of creativity and cognitive load in facilitating self-deception.
- Practical insights into how organizations and individuals can mitigate the prevalence of cheating.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
The work is regarded as an accessible and engaging entry into behavioral economics, praised for its ability to translate complex academic research into relatable human scenarios. The framing suggests a practical, evidence-based approach that appeals to both general readers interested in human nature and professionals seeking to understand ethical lapses in organizational settings.
Page Count:
304
Publication Date:
2012-06-05
Publisher:
HarperCollins
ISBN-10:
0007490569
ISBN-13:
9780007490561
Non-Fiction
Psychology
Truthfulness and falsehood
Self-deception
Will
Self Help
Honesty
Sociology
Subjects
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