Honesty threshold affects individuals' resistance to monetary temptations.

Peipei Jin, Ruixiang Gao, Weifang Zhong, Huang Gu, Luojin Zhong, Jun Wu, Ce Mo, Lei Mo

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Peipei JinSchool of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China. 2019022950@m.scnu.edu.cn.

Ruixiang GaoSchool of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.

Weifang ZhongGuangdong Justice Police Vocational College, Guangzhou, 510520, China.

Huang GuDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475000, China.

Luojin ZhongSchool of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.

Jun WuSchool of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China.

Ce Mo *Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China. moce3@mail.sysu.edu.cn.

Lei Mo *School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China. molei@m.scnu.edu.cn.

Funding

Basic and Applied Research Foundation of Guangzhou, China SL2023A04J00644Major Project of the National Social Science Foundation of China 19ZDA360Project of Key Institute of Humanities and Social Science, Ministry of Education of China 16JJD880025Social Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China GD24YXL03

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study investigated whether honesty is a stable trait or varies depending on situational factors. Using a coin flip guessing paradigm with monetary rewards, 33 participants completed trials with rewards ranging from 0.01 to 3 yuan. Modeling of behavioral data showed individuals have varying "honesty thresholds" where they switch from honest to dishonest behavior. EEG analysis revealed increased P300 amplitude when resisting greater monetary temptation, and individuals with higher honesty thresholds had lower P300 amplitudes for the same rewards. A late positive component indicated greater cognitive conflict when the reward amount neared an individual's honesty threshold. These findings challenge the conception of honesty as a stable trait, instead demonstrating it varies based on contextual factors like reward size. Computational modeling and EEG provide insight into the cognitive processes underlying contextual shifts in honest behavior.

Indexed as

DeceptionRewardAdultElectroencephalographyEvent-Related Potentials, P300FemaleHumansMaleYoung AdultActive deceptionEvent-related potentialHonestyHonesty thresholdMoney gain

Identifiers

PMID39806026

DOI10.1038/s41598-025-85926-y

PMCPMC11730329

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.