No harm, no foul
Subtitle: the outcome bias in ethical judgments
By: Francesca Gino, Don A. Moore, Max H. Bazerman .
Contributors: Moore, Don A.; Bazerman, Max H.; Harvard Business School
Edition: 2nd rev.
Series: Working paper / Harvard Business School -- 08-080; Working paper (Harvard Business School) -- 08-080
Publisher: Harvard Business School
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Boston]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 51
Description: We present six studies demonstrating that outcome information biases ethical judgments of others' ethically-questionable behaviors. In particular, we show that the same behaviors produce more ethical condemnation when they happen to produce bad rather than good outcomes, even if the outcomes are determined by chance. Our studies show that individuals judge behaviors as less ethical, more blameworthy, and punish them more harshly, when such behaviors led to undesirable consequences, even if they saw those behaviors as acceptable before they knew its consequences. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that a rational, analytic mindset can override the effects of one's intuitions in ethical judgments. Implications for both research and practice are discussed.
Notes: "Revised April 2009"--Publisher's web site.

Includes bibliographical references.