Why We Need Humane Education: Studies Show Affluence Can Encourage Unethical Behavior

Image courtesy of Muffet via Creative Commons.

Last summer during our Summer Institute for educators, one of the topics we discussed as a potential lesson for students was exploring the difference between affluence and affluenza. One can still have wealth and not be addicted to material stuff. One can have money and still embrace compassion, justice, and integrity. How much money you have isn't necessarily a predictor of what kind of person you are, but according to recent studies, if you're part of the 1%, you have a "higher propensity for unethical behavior."

Our friends at Greater Good recently outlined seven separate studies that give credence to the connection between your socioeconomic class and your character. Researchers found that "upper-class participants were more likely to lie and cheat when gambling or negotiating; cut people off when driving, and endorse unethical behavior in the workplace." And these findings, they say, “...have very clear implications for how increased wealth and status in society shapes patterns of ethical behavior, and suggest that the different social values among the haves and the have-nots help drive these tendencies.”

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One of the key predictors of unethical behavior related to attitudes about greed. Study participants who "were primed to think about the advantages of greed," regardless of their socioeconomic level, were more likely to be willing to engage in unethical behavior.

When we humane educators ask people of all ages to list the best qualities of human beings, "greed" is never among those qualities. But if you look at the implicit and explicit messages of our society, greed and unethical behavior from people and institutions with wealth and power are not only condoned, but often encouraged.

Humane education helps us become our best selves and make choices that do the most good and least harm for all, regardless of how much money is in our pocketbooks. It also encourages us to insist on ethical behavior and integrity from ourselves and others, and to work for just, restorative, healthy systems.

~ Marsha

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