Breathing to the path of virtue - The effects of justice sensitivity and state mindfulness on cheating behavior in a group performance task

Abstract

Previous research established the notion that both trait and state variables are powerful predictors of individuals' unethical decision making. The present work investigates the role of individual differences in dispositional sensitivity to injustice and state mindfulness on cheating behavior in a group performance task. In a laboratory experiment with 395 participants, we first assessed dispositional justice sensitivity and experimentally induced mindfulness via a 10-minute meditation. We then analyzed cheating behavior in a performance task. The incentive structure of the experiment was designed to allow participants to cheat on their true performance to positively influence their group payment. The higher participants scored on perpetrator sensitivity (fear of behaving unfairly), the less likely they were to cheat; this was also true for participants with high levels of state mindfulness. In turn, participants who scored high on victim sensitivity (fear of being unfairly disadvantaged) were more likely to cheat. We discuss our findings in light of the literature on justice sensitivity and mindfulness and highlight implications for further research.