Blind Spots: Why We Fail To Do What's Right And... «4K | 8K»

Before a decision, our "should" self (rational and ethical) is in charge. However, at the moment of the decision, the "want" self (impulsive and self-interested) takes over. Afterwards, we use "ethical fading" to justify our actions and maintain our positive self-image.

The authors argue that most unethical behaviour isn't the result of "bad people" doing bad things, but rather "good people" being unaware of the psychological biases that cloud their judgment. Blind Spots: Why We Fail to Do What's Right and...

Just as we have limits on our cognitive abilities (bounded rationality), we have psychological limits that prevent us from seeing the ethical dimensions of our choices. Before a decision, our "should" self (rational and

Instead of assuming we are perfectly ethical, we should acknowledge our biases so we can actively guard against them. The authors argue that most unethical behaviour isn't

The authors suggest that to improve ethical outcomes, we shouldn't just "try harder." Instead, we need to:

We have a tendency to overlook the unethical behaviour of others when it is in our interest to remain ignorant (e.g., a manager ignoring a top salesperson's shady tactics).