Good morning, thank you for meeting with me. the study of corruption from a psychological perspective is relatively new, could you enlighten us on the key areas of studying corruption through the lens of this science?
Yes. I think there is an important connection between psychology and corruption. For example, a key factor is that people want to promote material gain for themselves. However, at the same time they wish to view themselves as a moral actor. In other words, the last thing that these corrupt actors want is to look in the mirror and see themselves as immoral. Thus, there is a balance between maximizing self-gain and maintaining one’s view as a moral person. Researchers in this field are very interested in this delicate dilemma, and how to resolve it. Another significant area of focus is what is known as the “slippery slope” versus “steep cliff” argument.
In the “slippery slope” theory of corrupt behaviour, small acts and small crimes lead to larger acts. This can create very taxing and stressful environments for the perpetrators as they are constantly on guard. On the other end of this spectrum are the so-called golden opportunity moments, whereby a single event is uniquely tempting in and of itself.
Another important set of factors are rooted in norms and cultures. Apart from self-justification, many people use an “implicit” guideline for their own actions, especially with situations that are new, unfamiliar, and they might think what other people do in that situation. For example, in a culture of corruption, people may consider how other people would act in a similar situation. This is supported by the moral compensation theory. People negotiate with themselves, for example. They give a donation of 100 Euros and they give themselves the freedom to be more relaxed on another issue. This example is translated to other “domains,” e.g. it is possible to take pride in helping the community, even if that same person has behaved in a corrupt manner, for example, by taking bribes.
Some anti-corruption practitioners claim that researching corruption from a psychological point of view, although extremely interesting, might not serve the purpose of reducing or preventing it. What is your take on it? do you see any room for applying psychology to the on-the-field fight against corruption?
Well, I see a lot of opportunities. One is job rotation. People are less able to develop a trusting relationship to engage in interpersonal corruption. With job rotation, people have to build a new reputation with a new person and that may reduce it. Secondly, nudges and implicit reminders can be used, and could be a service reminder of reputation. For example, it is clear that the environment in which one works is a factor. Having a darker office with only a few windows versus an office that is brightly lit and full of windows certainly plays a role in one’s decision to behave in a corrupt manner. Thirdly, the size of the group plays a role. It is important to keep the group size small. Crowds of eight or nine allow one to hide. Instead, the superior practice would be to have officials working in smaller groups, as that can increase the difficulty of concealing corrupt behaviour. Finally, it is essential that we create a workplace where whistleblowers feel safe and comfortable to speak out about corrupt acts.
How does the theory on collective emotions applied to the international community influence the collective awareness on the negative impact of corruption and lead to acknowledge the need for the international regulation on anti-corruption?
When the economy is strong, there is much less incentive, from the public’s perspective, to do anything about the problem of corruption. In fact, during strong periods of growth, corrupt behaviour can actually become normalized. Plus, coordinating a response to corruption means that scarce public resources must be devoted to new bodies and new professionals.
What are your next steps in your line of work and research on (anti-) corruption?
Next, I would like to focus on more transparency as to how the regulations regarding corruption are crafted. However, I would also like the opportunity to further explore the so-called “slippery slope” and so-called “steep cliff” metaphors. Lastly, I would like to do some research into one’s physiological response to corruption. For instance, do you experience some sort of pain if you are reminded of corruption?
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