Honesty threshold affects individuals’ resistance to monetary temptations
Abstract This study investigated whether honesty is a stable trait or varies depending on situational factors. Using a coin flip guessing paradigm with monetary rewards, 33 participants completed trials with rewards ranging from 0.01 to 3 yuan. Modeling of behavioral data showed individuals have var...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85926-y |
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| author | Peipei Jin Ruixiang Gao Weifang Zhong Huang Gu Luojin Zhong Jun Wu Ce Mo Lei Mo |
| author_facet | Peipei Jin Ruixiang Gao Weifang Zhong Huang Gu Luojin Zhong Jun Wu Ce Mo Lei Mo |
| author_sort | Peipei Jin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study investigated whether honesty is a stable trait or varies depending on situational factors. Using a coin flip guessing paradigm with monetary rewards, 33 participants completed trials with rewards ranging from 0.01 to 3 yuan. Modeling of behavioral data showed individuals have varying “honesty thresholds” where they switch from honest to dishonest behavior. EEG analysis revealed increased P300 amplitude when resisting greater monetary temptation, and individuals with higher honesty thresholds had lower P300 amplitudes for the same rewards. A late positive component indicated greater cognitive conflict when the reward amount neared an individual’s honesty threshold. These findings challenge the conception of honesty as a stable trait, instead demonstrating it varies based on contextual factors like reward size. Computational modeling and EEG provide insight into the cognitive processes underlying contextual shifts in honest behavior. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-157cad960efc4b04bc114787702ae0f6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-157cad960efc4b04bc114787702ae0f62025-01-19T12:23:21ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-85926-yHonesty threshold affects individuals’ resistance to monetary temptationsPeipei Jin0Ruixiang Gao1Weifang Zhong2Huang Gu3Luojin Zhong4Jun Wu5Ce Mo6Lei Mo7School of Psychology, South China Normal UniversitySchool of Psychology, South China Normal UniversityGuangdong Justice Police Vocational CollegeDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Henan UniversitySchool of Psychology, South China Normal UniversitySchool of Psychology, South China Normal UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen UniversitySchool of Psychology, South China Normal UniversityAbstract This study investigated whether honesty is a stable trait or varies depending on situational factors. Using a coin flip guessing paradigm with monetary rewards, 33 participants completed trials with rewards ranging from 0.01 to 3 yuan. Modeling of behavioral data showed individuals have varying “honesty thresholds” where they switch from honest to dishonest behavior. EEG analysis revealed increased P300 amplitude when resisting greater monetary temptation, and individuals with higher honesty thresholds had lower P300 amplitudes for the same rewards. A late positive component indicated greater cognitive conflict when the reward amount neared an individual’s honesty threshold. These findings challenge the conception of honesty as a stable trait, instead demonstrating it varies based on contextual factors like reward size. Computational modeling and EEG provide insight into the cognitive processes underlying contextual shifts in honest behavior.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85926-yHonestyActive deceptionHonesty thresholdMoney gainEvent-related potential |
| spellingShingle | Peipei Jin Ruixiang Gao Weifang Zhong Huang Gu Luojin Zhong Jun Wu Ce Mo Lei Mo Honesty threshold affects individuals’ resistance to monetary temptations Scientific Reports Honesty Active deception Honesty threshold Money gain Event-related potential |
| title | Honesty threshold affects individuals’ resistance to monetary temptations |
| title_full | Honesty threshold affects individuals’ resistance to monetary temptations |
| title_fullStr | Honesty threshold affects individuals’ resistance to monetary temptations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Honesty threshold affects individuals’ resistance to monetary temptations |
| title_short | Honesty threshold affects individuals’ resistance to monetary temptations |
| title_sort | honesty threshold affects individuals resistance to monetary temptations |
| topic | Honesty Active deception Honesty threshold Money gain Event-related potential |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85926-y |
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