Abstract
Abstract
Experiences of financial scarcity (i.e., perceptions of “having less than needed”) can distort decision-making, capture attention, and make individuals risk-seeking and short-term oriented. However, the influence of scarcity on information acquisition and ethical decision-making remains poorly understood. This eye-tracking study explored how acute financial scarcity affects ethical decision-making and shapes selective information search in an economic task with competing incentives (N = 60). Contrary to predictions, participants experiencing scarcity were less likely to cheat for economic gains, indicating that scarcity does not necessarily reduce ethical behavior. Participants displayed a strong attentional bias towards high-paying choices but did not act unethically. These findings might reveal a "moral boundary" dictating when attentional biases translate into decision-making. Our results contribute to understanding how individuals in scarcity contexts process and prioritize information in ethical decision-making, helping organizations and policymakers combat stereotypes surrounding resource-deprived individuals, and design evidence-based policy interventions promoting ethical behavior in financially scarce situations.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC
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