Deceptive messages lead to harsher punishment in social interactions.
The study shows that people are more likely to punish unfair behavior if it follows a deceptive message. Participants were asked to make decisions based on messages they received, and those who were deceived were more likely to punish unfair actions. Surprisingly, some participants chose to reward good behavior even if it put them at a disadvantage. These findings challenge current economic models and have implications for decision-making in organizations.