Lies
People lie. It is a sad fact. I don’t. But then maybe I am lying. What gets really interesting, though, are those circumstances when people do lie. Take this recent study that suggests that email is the most deceitful form of communications in the workplace. Not only that, but people actually felt more justified when lying by email, as opposed to lying using a pen and paper.
In one study*, the researchers handed 48 full-time MBA students $89 to divide between themselves and another fictional party, who only knew the dollar amount fell somewhere between $5 and $100. There was one pre-condition: the other party had to accept whatever offer was made to them. Using either e-mail or pen-and-paper communications, the MBA students reported the size of the pot, truthful or not, and how much the other party would get. More than 9 out of 10 students using email lied about the amount of money to be divided, while about 2 in 3 lied about the pot size in the pen-and-paper condition. The rate of lying was almost 50% greater between email v. pen and paper. In a second study, the rate of dishonesty reduced as the relationship between the parties became more friendly, but they still told big whoppers!
Now maybe it is just MBA students that lie, as they are probably being groomed for a fruitful career on Wall Street (o.k., cheap shot). The bottom line message for marketers? People treat online communication in an entirely different manner, with a completely different set of ethical and moral norms, than they do other forms of communication. We should all bear this in mind as we create, perceive or engage in any online communication strategy.
*”Being Honest Online: The Finer Points of Lying in Online Ultimatum Bargaining.” Liuba Belkin of Lehigh University, Terri Kurtzberg of Rutgers University and Charles Naquin of DePaul University.
Written by Stuart
David Day | Associates
About the Author: Stuart is constantly curious and believes conversation matters, for business, people and community. Feel free to join in...