Cognitive Load Increases Self-Serving Cheating

Abstract

Is cheating intuitive when it serves self-interest? The literature on intuitive honesty versus dishonesty remains controversial. In two studies, we used both betweensubjects (Study 1, N = 90) and within-subjects (Study 2, N = 93) cognitive load manipulations to induce intuition and tested the intuitive dishonesty hypothesis with behavioral cheating paradigms. Results showed that cognitive load increased lying across multiple tasks (Studies 1 and 2). Moreover, the intuitive dishonesty effect occurred only for individuals low in Honesty-Humility (Study 2). The findings are discussed with regard to current debates about intuitive dishonesty.