Why do some people and companies engage in unethical behavior?
Galinsky: It’s important to understand that people don’t engage in unethical behavior when the incentives are small. They tend to engage in unethical behavior when the incentives are large. Keep in mind also that unethical behavior usually breeds more unethical behavior — because hiding that first misdeed usually requires more misdeeds — and for some businesses, like Enron, this can lead down a path that ends in destruction.
