Board 8 > Michigan Study says People would LIE for a FAMILY MEMBER who BROKE THE LAW!!.

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A Study from the University of Michigan says that people are willing to BENCH their sense of right and wrong when it comes to their OWN FAMILY MEMBER..even if it means BREAKING THE LAW!!

They found that blood is thicker than water as a family member would protect one of their own if they had broken a law and would keep it a secret...

The family protection happensfor any moral infraction but becomes moreintense when a person is guilty of severe consequences such as theft, blackmail, groping or even MURDER!!

The study was published by Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin and the authors were surprised people become more protective of loved ones as the severity of the crime increases

Aaron Weidman said "We werereally taken aback tosee that most people predict that they will protect those close to them even in the face of heinous moral infractions"

It collated answers from more than 2800 people in 10 separate studies when asked how they would react when someone close to them commits a crime such as sexual harassment

They were also quizzed on how they'd react if asked by a police officer if they knew any information about an immoral act they had seen and they uncovered people would HIDE the truth and even lie in a criminal offense to protect family

But the standards were NOT upheld for STRANGERS as participants admitted they would gladly blow the whistle on them as they justify their decision by claiming to discipline the "wrongdoing themselves"

By doing this, people maintain their self-image as a morally upstanding individual as well as preserving the close relationship

"Loyalty is a powerful motivator that, under any circumstances, can override other virtues like honesty"

This also explains why so few people in the political scene would never blow the whistle on one of their own if it means could hurt their image and party as loyalty over values is worth more.

Are you one of these hypocrites who would protect your family member or friend if they broke the law but would blow the whistle on a stranger if they did the same thing?




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you break the law you go to jail
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You lick the boot you taste the varnish

I want a link to an actual article about the study, or even to the study itself
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I think I'd be the reverse of this study. If it was a minor issue like shoplifting a newspaper or speeding then I'd let it slide if it was a major issue then I'd absolutely give you up.

5tarscream posted...

I think I'd be the reverse of this study. If it was a minor issue like shoplifting a newspaper or speeding then I'd let it slide if it was a major issue then I'd absolutely give you up.

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5tarscream posted...

I think I'd be the reverse of this study. If it was a minor issue like shoplifting a newspaper or speeding then I'd let it slide if it was a major issue then I'd absolutely give you up.

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Are you sure that's what the study says?
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Maniac64 posted...

5tarscream posted...

I think I'd be the reverse of this study. If it was a minor issue like shoplifting a newspaper or speeding then I'd let it slide if it was a major issue then I'd absolutely give you up.

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The family protection happensfor any moral infraction but becomes moreintense when a person is guilty of severe consequences such as theft, blackmail, groping or even MURDER!!

oh, it's here.

it sounds like it's not that people are more likely to let heavier crimes slide, it's about the difference in treatment between strangers and family.

it could be

Family member walks on the grass: 10% report
Stranger walks on the grass: 12% report

Family member kills a stalker: 70% report
Stranger kills a stalker: 99% report

even though the report rates are much higher in each case, the relative difference ("protection") is higher for the more intense crime (20% vs. 27%)
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plus, i imagine it's all about control

you always have zero control over a stranger, so you don't lose any control by reporting them to the police

you do have some control over a close friend or family member, which you give away by turning them over to an outside authority figure
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What? I don't have any control over friends or family. Like.. maybe a child you have some amount of control?

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don't do the crime if you can't do the time
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