I wonder how the payment rates would change if he simply mounted a non-functional wireless camera plugged into a socket pointing at the bagel location?
(ie, hinting to people that they are not invisible as in the story of the Ring of Gyges)
(ie, hinting to people that they are not invisible as in the story of the Ring of Gyges)
An interesting question. I wouldn't be surprised if the camera made it worse. My guess is that people, when trusted, hold themselves to a higher standard. But with a camera present, they're allowed to turn off their own consciences. So people would be ingenious about palming a bagel so the camera wouldn't see, and think that if the camera's not seeing it, they're home free.
http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/melissa.bateson/Bateson_etal_2006...
> We examined the effect of an image of a pair of eyes on contributions to an honesty box used to collect money for drinks in a university coffee room. People paid nearly three times as much for their drinks when eyes were displayed rather than a control image. This finding provides the first evidence from a naturalistic setting of the importance of cues of being watched, and hence reputational concerns, on human cooperative behaviour.
Upvoted because it's interesting, but I don't think it directly addresses my thesis. The cited study is looking at the effect of subliminally suggesting that someone could be watching. I'm wondering about a situation where the subject really is being watched, or is at least made to believe that he is, and in a way that such that his evil behavior can be easily masked.
Specifically, I theorize that if someone else asserts control over a person's moral behavior, then that subject will exercise less self-control, yielding to the authority as necessary.
http://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/06/11/9f4a169cfc44d712c8...
Cheaper still, a sign saying "this break room is under video surveillance".
He could try all sorts of things in different locations, like starting a rumour that management watched for non-payment to decide who should be laid off first, etc..