Our ability to self-control to avoid telling lies diminishes as the day progresses , making us more prone to bullshit in the afternoon and evening, according to a new study published in the journal Psychological Science .
The authors wanted to find out if unethical behaviors, such as cheating and lying, depended on the time of day, since they had observed "that the experiments carried out in the morning systematically gave results with a lower level of unethical behavior," explains Maryam Kouchaki. , researcher at Harvard University and co-author of the work.
Their experiments confirmed that we tend to be more honest in the morning than when the day is about to end, even if we tend to feel guilty after "blurting out" a lie. Scientists attribute it to the fact that, during the day, self-control "wears out" due to lack of rest and the constant exercise of decision-making to which we are subjected.
Regarding the applications of this study, the researchers say that "whether you are trying to control your own temptations, or if you are a parent, a teacher or a manager concerned about the possible unethical behavior of others, the research suggests that you should consider something as mundane as the time of day. "
