Questions of Character

Virtues, vices, and character

Christian B. Miller Ph.D., Blaine Fowers Ph.D., Bradford Cokelet Ph.D.

Scrutinizing an Influential Study of Dishonesty

Was data manipulated in research on dishonesty?

The Slower You Respond, the Less Truthful You Appear

If you want to pull a fast one on someone, the faster you respond, the more likely it is that you will succeed.

Do Girls Negotiate Differently Than Boys?

A recent study finds significant differences as early as 8- to 9-years-old.

Those Who Produce BS Are More Vulnerable to Others Who Do the Same

If you dish it out, you may be more likely to fall for it in return.

Are People Who Curse Actually More Honest?

Research explores whether cursing might be a sign of greater honesty.

Can Mask Wearing Be a Clue to Someone’s Dishonesty?

People who wore their masks correctly showed more honesty in an experimental task than those who didn't.

The Cinnabon Made Me Do It

From Cinnabon to the Bathroom: How we may be influenced by subtle factors in our environment and what it could mean for moral character and virtue.

What Does It Take to Have Good Character?

We should all become virtuous, but what does that even mean?

True Generosity Involves More Than Just Giving

Is Bill Gates really a generous person? How can we tell if anyone is?

Work-Life Balance: Luxury or Ethical Necessity?

Are long hours and difficulties unplugging making you a worse person?

What Makes a Person Kind?

What is kindness and where does it come from?

Why We Love Virtue

What's to love about virtue?

Our Conflicted Characters

In my recent blog posts, I have mentioned certain studies in psychology with dramatic findings about cheating. And when we look at these studies together we find a deeply puzzling pattern that begins to emerge.

Are Most People Dishonest? Thankfully, No

Watching the news today, it is easy to think that most people must be dishonest. But studies suggest that, at least for most of us, our characters are not so bad that they deserved to be labeled dishonesty.

Are Cheaters the Exception or the Rule?

Cheating is very much in the news again. Anthony Weiner and the Internet. Baseball players and performance enhancing drugs. 70 Harvard University undergraduate students and their take-home exam. Are these just exceptional cases, and most of us are basically honest, trustworthy people? Or instead are most of us inclined to cheat too when the right opportunity comes along?