In 2019, federal prosecutors arrested 50 people in a college admission scheme that allowed wealthy parents to buy their children’s admission to elite universities. Prosecutors found that the parents together paid up to $ 5 million to put their children in college. The list included celebrity parents like actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin.
Some may ask why these parents failed to consider the moral implications of their actions?
My 20 years of research in moral psychology suggest many reasons why people behave unethically. When it comes to the wealthy, research shows that they go to great lengths to maintain their superior status. A sense of entitlement plays a role.
How people rationalize
Let’s first consider what allows people to act unethically and yet feel no guilt or remorse.
Research shows that people are good at rationalizing unethical actions that serve their own interests. The success or failure of children often has implications for the way in which parents see themselves and are seen by others. They are more likely to enjoy their children’s reflected glory. They seem to gain esteem based on their connection to successful children. This means that parents can be motivated by self-interest to ensure their children’s performance.
In the case of cheating on their children, parents can justify the behavior through comparisons that help them to morally disengage from an action. For example, they may say that other parents do much worse or minimize the consequences of their actions through words like, “My behavior didn’t do much harm.”
Seeing unethical results as serving others, including children, can help parents create a psychological distance to rationalize misconduct. Several studies show that people are more likely to be unethical when their actions also help someone else. For example, it is easier for employees to accept a bribe when they plan to share earnings with coworkers.
Sense of right
When it comes to the wealthy and privileged, a sense of entitlement or a belief that someone deserves privileges over others can play an important role in unethical conduct.
Privileged individuals are also less likely to follow rules and instructions, as they believe the rules are unfair. Because they feel they deserve more than their fair share, they are willing to violate socially agreed standards of conduct.
Feeling a sense of entitlement also leads people to be more competitive, selfish and aggressive when they feel a threat. For example, white men are less likely to support affirmative action to balance the playing field because it threatens their privileged status.
Research suggests that the right may come in part from being rich. It has been found that wealthy individuals who are considered “upper class” on the basis of their income lie, steal and cheat to get what they want. They were also considered less generous. They are more likely to break the law when driving, give less help to needy strangers, and generally pay less attention to others.
In addition, growing up in wealth is associated with more narcissistic behavior, which results in selfishness, expressing a need for admiration and a lack of empathy.
Consequences of loss of status
Individuals who think they deserve unfair advantages are more likely to take steps to raise their status level, such as ensuring that their children attend high-status universities. The loss of status appears to be particularly threatening for individuals of high status.
A recent review of status research shows that loss of status, or even fear of loss of status, has been associated with an increase in suicide attempts. There are reports that individuals have physiological changes, such as increased blood pressure and pulse.
These individuals have also increasingly tried to avoid losing status, being willing to pay cash and allocate resources for themselves.
In his book “The Coddling of the American Mind”, First Amendment expert Greg Lukianoff and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt claim that parents, especially in the upper class, are increasingly concerned that their children are attending the best universities .
These authors argue that, as economic prospects are less certain due to stagnant wages, automation and globalization, wealthier parents tend to be particularly concerned about future economic opportunities for their children.
Feeling invulnerable
People who have a sense of power, which often comes with wealth and fame, tend to be less likely to believe that they are vulnerable to the harmful consequences of unethical behavior.
Experiencing a psychological sense of power leads to a false sense of control. It can also lead to increased risk-taking and decreased concern for others.
It is possible that some of these reasons in moral psychology were behind these wealthy parents cheating on behalf of their children. The desire to go far to help the child is admirable. However, when these lengths exceed ethical limits, it is a step too far.
This article was republished from The Conversation, a non-profit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts.
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David M. Mayer does not work for, consult, own shares or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article and has not disclosed any relevant affiliations other than his academic appointment.