Lies and misinformation that are in line with the individual’s political views and could eventually come true are perceived as less unethical – even justified – because they agree with the wider sentiment behind the lie, a new study suggests.
Researchers conducted six experiments involving more than 3,600 participants to study why some people approve of lies and misinformation. Participants in each experiment were shown different statements, clearly marked as false. Some were then asked to consider whether the allegations could one day come true.
One experiment, for example, asked participants to imagine a friend lying about their skills in their resume. Some of them were then asked to consider whether the friend could one day acquire the skill they had lied about. Researchers have found that those who did find dishonesty less unethical. Another experiment asked participants to look at several very different political statements that were clearly identified as false and asked to predict if they might come true.
A study published Thursday by the American Psychological Association’s Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that across the political spectrum, lies are less likely to be considered unethical than those who believe they can come true than those who do not. If the lie is also in line with their policy, the researchers found that participants were also more likely to share it on social media.
“The misinformation is partly because some people believe it. But that’s only part of the story,” lead author Beth Ann Helgason, a PhD student at the London Business School, said in a statement.
Misinformation also continues, because sometimes people know it’s wrong, but they’re still willing to apologize.
Co-author Daniel Efron, a professor of organizational behavior at the London Business School, said the findings were alarming because participants were not dissuaded, even when encouraged to consider the ethics of lies.
“This underscores the negative consequences of providing airtime to leaders in business and politics who tell lies,” Efron said in a statement.
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