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Optimism, pessimism, mood swings and dishonest behavior

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  • Siniver, Erez
  • Yaniv, Gideon

Abstract

The present paper reports the results of two experimental studies designed to examine the effects of optimism, pessimism, and mood swings on dishonest behavior. In Study 1, optimistic and pessimistic moods were exogenously induced to two classes of economics students who subsequently performed the die-under-the-cup task. Subjects experiencing an optimistic mood were found to exhibit greater dishonesty than those experiencing a pessimistic mood. In Study 2, economics students were asked, before and after taking a much-feared exam, to indicate on an optimism/pessimism mood scale how they felt about their success in it, subsequently performing the die-under-the-cup task. Dishonesty was found to be positively (negatively) correlated with post-exam optimism (pessimism) as well as with mood upswings (downswings) occurring between the post and pre-exam points of time. A side study ruled out the possibility that post-exam optimism induced a sense of entitlement which could have driven greater dishonesty.

Suggested Citation

  • Siniver, Erez & Yaniv, Gideon, 2019. "Optimism, pessimism, mood swings and dishonest behavior," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 54-63.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:72:y:2019:i:c:p:54-63
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2019.01.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Klijn, Flip & Mdaghri Alaoui, Mehdi & Vorsatz, Marc, 2022. "Academic integrity in on-line exams: Evidence from a randomized field experiment," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    3. Siniver, Erez & Tobol, Yossef & Yaniv, Gideon, 2022. "Urge to void and dishonest behavior: Evidence from a field experiment," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    4. Siniver, Erez, 2021. "Do Happy People Cheat Less? A Field Experiment on Dishonesty," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
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    6. Tobol, Yossef & Siniver, Erez & Yaniv, Gideon, 2020. "Do tightwads cheat more? Evidence from three field experiments," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 148-158.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Optimism; Pessimism; Mood swings; Dishonest behavior;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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