Ethical Behavior of the Mind
Much unethical behavior arises from ethical fading—not realizing that you are facing a moral issue so that no conscious ethical deliberation ever happens. The key is learning to appreciate what your behavior looks like from the point of view of those whom your actions affect. It is an exercise in caring; it isn’t easy, but it is learnable with practice. The goal is to avoid making decisions that lead you to unethical or moral choices down the road. By removing the blinders, you may avoid finding yourself in a place you did not intend.
Many ethical issues do not appear all at once but, instead, come into focus incrementally. The first time something wrong happens, it’s easy to perceive it as a one-time thing or just an odd mistake. You may not take much notice or explain it away. But if it happens again, will you become more alert? Perhaps not, especially if these instances unfold slowly. Many psychologists refer to the “boiling frog” problem: The idea that a frog will likely jump out of a pot of boiling water but will stay in the water and die if it is cool initially and the heat is gradually turned up. Another way to think about this is —that once we’re in water long enough, we no longer sense that we’re in the water. Things seem normal, even when they are changing. And that makes it hard to trigger ethical awareness.
Recognizing Potential Ethical Failures
Many ethical failures come not from what we choose but from what we ignore. This relates to the infamous slippery slope, which suggests that the first small steps keep moving the line of appropriateness so that gradually, the steps move considerably beyond the initial line between right and wrong. If there is one powerful message from the research on this topic, it is that it does not take much for a person to “innocently” begin a descent that ends in serious wrongdoing. After a few such steps, some consciousness of wrongdoing may kick in. Still, at that point, the person is too deep, and the temptation to take even more significant risks to get out of trouble and cover up what has already been done becomes overwhelming.
Otherwise, honest people sometimes get caught up in a lie. Initially, they would vigorously deny that they intended to do anything wrong. Once the downslide starts, however, it’s hard to get out. What is required to avoid falling into this downslide of ethical behavior is the ability to see something like this coming before you get in so deep that you can’t see a way out.
Here are a few things to keep in mind to be more aware of the impact of your actions:
Self-rationalization: Beware of how easy it is to rationalize your self-interest, setting a mental trap that can endanger your reputation and career.
Blindly Focused on Success: Being aware that some traits of highly motivated individuals, like focus and intensity, can lead to ethical blindness.
Developing empathy vs self-interest: Learn to spot and think through ethical dilemmas through the eyes of others.
Avoid Giving People a Reason to Doubt Your Integrity: If others doubt you, their point of view, not your own, will determine how your behavior and character will be judged.
Learn to reflect on your actions: One way to do this is to ask yourself whether you would be doing the same actions if your mother or a family member were involved. Or consider if you would take the same actions if your actions were publicized for the entire world.
Group Pressure: Be aware of how peer pressure and group loyalty can lead to a willingness to lie or take advantage of others for “the team.”
Find an Ethical Mentor: Find at least one person to mentor and advise you on professional and personal matters.
In summary, remember, one person can make a difference. What you do today can make a difference for you, your family, and perhaps the world.
