Psychologie anormale et comportementale

Cognition and Dishonest Behavior

Abstract

Jean Mennesson*

Dishonesty has received increased attention in recent years from many professionals due to its importance in many social areas such as finance and psychology, among others. Understanding the mechanisms underlying dishonesty and the channels through which it operates may allow for the detection and even prevention of dishonest behaviour. However, studying dishonesty is a difficult task; dishonesty is a complex behaviour that imposes a psychological and cognitive burden. The study of this burden has spawned a new research trend centred on the role of cognition in dishonesty. Theoretical aspects of how such cognitive processes modulate dishonest behaviour are reviewed in this paper. We will pay special attention to executive functions that may influence the decision to be honest, such as inhibitory processes, working memory, or set-shifting.