While values are the foundation of ethical behavior, an ethical decision-making process lends clarity to difficult situations. Following the process guides decision-makers through problems to reach a workable solution. Using this model helps avoid unethical alternatives and unattractive consequences. Generally, a decision-making process should include the steps shown in the diagram below. Here are some…
Moral awareness is the first step along the pathway to consistent ethical behavior. It begins with an individual’s ability to detect a moral principle in danger or notice the violation of an ethical principle. Individuals who have strong moral awareness appreciate the ethical aspects of a decision that one must make.
Are you using your own judgment? Are you sure? Conformity bias refers to our tendency to take cues for proper behavior in most contexts from the actions of others rather than exercise our own independent judgment. This video shows how conformity bias works, and how to maintain independence in the face of the pressure to…
This video from Ethics Unwrapped introduces the idea of the “overconfidence bias.” You may have heard that most drivers rate their driving skill as above-average. The idea also applies to acting ethically. The overconfidence bias is our tendency to be more confident in our ability to act ethically than is objectively justified by our abilities…
In this edition of the bias series, we look at self-serving bias. It’s tempting to pick and choose information that props up our self-esteem. The self-serving bias causes us to see things in ways that support our best interests and our pre-existing points of view.
Everyone has biases, whether they consciously know it or not. Implicit bias exists when people unconsciously hold attitudes toward others or associate stereotypes with them. Implicit bias is an active area of research, and you can test your own biases after watching this video.
The circumstances of our lives may matter less than how we see them, says Rory Sutherland. At TEDxAthens, he makes a compelling case for how reframing is the key to happiness. By: Rory Sutherland This video is shared under a Creative Commons license (BY-NC-ND 4.0). Please visit Ted.com. This TED Talk originally appeared on TEDxAthens in…
Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development is based on Piaget’s theory. Kohlberg stated that moral reasoning is based on six developmental stages. These stages are the basis for ethical behavior. The higher the level of moral reasoning, the better that the person is at dealing with moral dilemmas. The six stages of moral development are…
“A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, or to others, is not a nice person” (Barry, 1998, p. 185). Steve Nguyen, Ph.D. (Dec. 2009; updated Jan. 2015) Many years ago, while waiting for a show at a nice hotel in Dallas, my wife and I were standing in line to…
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