A Series of Unconscionable Events

You might not think twice about swiping a stapler from the office, but what about stealing from the company till? A new paper in the Journal of Applied Psychology offers evidence that under the right circumstances relatively small misdeeds can pave the way to more serious ones.

In a series of studies, researchers found that people were most likely to act unethically when tested in "slippery slope" conditions—where rewards for bad behavior increased gradually. In one experiment, participants attempted to solve problems and then reported, on the honor system, how many they solved correctly. Subjects in the experimental group received 25 cents for each correct answer in the first round, $1 in the second, and $2.50 in the third. The gradual increase stepped up their incentive to lie to testers—and made each potential lie worse than the last. People in other groups were paid either nothing or a flat $2.50 for each correct solution.

Those with progressive incentives were the most likely to over-report their correct answers. Why? Committing increasingly unethical acts over time allows people to rationalize and routinize their conduct, the researchers say. If someone manages to convince himself that one bad act was justifiable, "doing something that's just a little bit worse doesn't seem so bad," says David T. Welsh, professor of management at the University of Washington and lead author of the study.

"Many people, and not just a few bad apples, are prone to these types of things," Welsh says.

Worried that you'll slide down a slippery slope? Those who were encouraged to focus on prevention—completing a task involving words like vigilance or writing about an outcome they wanted to avoid—were less likely to cheat. The study suggests that setting clear ethical standards, addressing small violations, and simply making people aware of the effect can avert slippage.

Slippery Slopers in Reality and Fiction

Bernie Madoff: After losing money, starts falsifying the numbers instead of telling the truth to his clients. >> Launches a Ponzi scheme in which he pays investors with cash from new clients. >>> Scams investors out of billions until he is arrested and sentenced to 150 years in prison.

Jayson Blair: Lies to get out of an assignment for his college newspaper. >> Pretends his cousin died on 9/11 to get out of an assignment for The New York Times. >>> Steals and falsifies quotes, names, and facts in Times articles until he is caught and fired.

Frank Underwood (House of Cards): Lies, bribes, and manipulates to gain the upper hand in government power plays. >> Sabotages and murders a politician as part of a scheme to secure a spot in the cabinet. >>> Pushes reporter/ex-mistress in front of a train to cover his tracks.

Walter White (Breaking Bad): Starts cooking meth in his downtime as a high-school chemistry teacher. >> Allows partner's girlfriend, who threatens the operation, to die in her sleep. >>> Blows up a rival, has potential witnesses slain en masse, and poisons a child to stay on top.