The (honest) truth about lies

Did the danger of falling down really deter us from unfair behavior? Why do we cheat more when we wear imitations of fashionable brands? Does cooperation make us more honest? How does religion affect fairness? While we like to think of ourselves as honest people, in reality we all cheat or lie sometimes. Immoral behavior can be observed not only in the world of politics, but also in our own lives, almost everywhere from our private lives to our jobs. In his book, Dan Ariely, a psychologist and behavioral economist, examines the cost-benefit analysis that allegedly causes unfair behavior and concludes that it is often irrational forces that affect our actions that we do not usually attach much importance to. Through her book, we can discover the psychological and environmental factors that make our daily lives more honest (or even unfair) and recognize how to cheat in our own interests while maintaining a positive image of ourselves. About the Author Dan Ariely is Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University. He obtained his first PhD in cognitive psychology and his second in corporate management. Founder and director of the Center for Advanced Hindsight. His two books can be read in Hungarian, Predictably Irrational and Ingeniously Irrational. His writings have appeared in a number of places, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe.