A new study published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin has found that individuals high in narcissism are more likely to behave ethically when exposed to a specific kind of message designed to prevent rationalizations for bad behavior. Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno, developed an “inoculation” strategy aimed at protecting against moral disengagement—the psychological process by which people justify unethical behavior.
The study’s lead author, Daniel N. Jones, and his team conducted three experiments involving over 1,200 participants. The results showed that individuals high in narcissism were less likely to cheat or lie after receiving the inoculation message, compared to those who received a standard code of ethics. The researchers believe this is because narcissists are more motivated by maintaining a positive self-image and are thus more susceptible to rationalizations when engaging in dishonest behavior.
However, the study found that the inoculation approach was not universally effective. In fact, it may even increase awareness of justifications for unethical behavior among individuals who score low on narcissism or have internal motivation to be honest. The researchers caution that a one-size-fits-all approach to ethics training may not be optimal and suggest that interventions should be customized based on personality traits and motivational factors.
The study’s findings have implications for the development of effective ethics training programs, particularly for individuals who are prone to dishonesty but still care about maintaining a positive self-image. The researchers argue that an inoculation strategy can be a valuable tool in promoting ethical behavior among narcissists, provided it is tailored to their specific needs and motivations.
Source: https://www.psypost.org/scientists-discover-how-to-psychologically-inoculate-narcissists-against-dishonesty