Feeling Good About Doing Bad: The Unforeseen Positive Emotions and Reactions Underlying Wrongdoing

Though past research suggests that individuals grapple with negative emotions when dealing with their own and others’ bad (dishonest) behaviors, this symposium explores a different proposition, one where actors feel good for bad deeds in ways that explain why actors and their dishonest collaborators might find extensive support in organizational context. Across a series of studies, the papers in our symposium show that individuals feel pride and gratitude for dishonesty, explaining their motivation to engage in and support dishonesty. Additionally, we find that they are able to reconcile such feelings if they embrace the paradox of feeling bad and good at the same time. Together this research explores the emotional antecedents, consequences, and moderators of positive reactions to dishonesty, providing a more nuanced view as to why dishonesty persists in many organizational contexts. Proud to be Guilty - Emotional Implications of Egoistic vs. Altruistic Dishonesty Author: Shaked Shuster; Ben Gurion U. of the Negev Author: Tal Eyal; Ben Gurion U. of the Negev Author: Shahar Ayal; Reichman U. (IDC) Author: Simone Moran; Ben Gurion U. of the Negev I am Dishonest and I Know it! Paradox Mindset and Self-Concept Author: Eriselda Danaj; IESE Business School Partners in Crime: Gratitude Increases Corrupt Collaboration Author: Ke Wang; Harvard Kennedy School Author: Molly Moore; Harvard Kennedy School Author: Jennifer Lerner; Harvard Kennedy School Being Good and Doing Bad: How Occupational Stereotypes Influence Gratitude for Prosocial Dishonesty Author: S Wiley Wakeman; Stockholm School of Economics Author: Megan Chan; Stockholm School of Economics Author: Nora Hansson Bittar; Stockholm School of Economics Author: Ning Xu; Stockholm School of Economics