Integrity is thought-about a advantage associated to honesty and consistency. When somebody shows integrity, they sign that they are often counted on to do what they are saying they’ll do. We’re comfy relying on their conduct as a result of they’re masters at following by way of.

Once we see others behaving with integrity, we admire them. What’s extra, we belief them, particularly if they’re a chief. Not solely does integrity construct emotions of reference to leaders, however it additionally enhances perceptions of morally righteous conduct.

At this level, you need to ask your self: Is behaving persistently actually the identical as behaving morally?

It may possibly positive really feel that method. Integrity in others might help cut back our personal cognitive effort; no have to suppose critically about their conduct as a result of they’re constant.

However simply because somebody behaves persistently doesn’t imply that they’ve your finest pursuits at coronary heart—and even that you may belief them. And conduct that’s situationally applicable in a single context could also be method out of line in one other. Think about a coach who persistently benches gamers for poor efficiency. Now think about them teaching a Little League workforce. Typically integrity must be tempered with compassion.

Displaying integrity ourselves has advantages as nicely; there is no such thing as a have to repeatedly reevaluate circumstances to resolve the correct plan of action as a result of we at all times make the identical alternative. Integrity additionally solidifies our id-based opinions, which, in flip, might help us construct affiliation and group. For instance, constant opposition to jail spending alerts our membership within the liberal tribe, simply as opposition to gun management alerts membership within the conservative tribe.

If we need to make higher choices, we must always take into account new data as it’s introduced and reevaluate our stance quite than sticking to our concepts it doesn’t matter what. Nevertheless, after we worth integrity as a part of our id, we’re much less probably to do that. Because of this, our integrity can truly result in cognitive rigidity and impaired judgment and decision-making! This constructive attribute can inadvertently lead us to some significantly suboptimal decision-making.

Moreover, integrity can amplify our cognitive biases (these will present up loads on this weblog). It may possibly trick us into solely looking for out data that aligns with our current beliefs (affirmation bias) or immediate us to interpret occasions in ways in which reinforce our integrity-driven narrative (self-serving bias). It may possibly additionally set off the halo impact, which blinds us to the failings and shortcomings of these we understand as having quite a lot of integrity as a result of we imagine integrity is vital and see it in ourselves. A standard instance of the halo impact is the idea {that a} bodily enticing individual can be form, however anybody who has seen the film Imply Ladies is aware of this isn’t the case; the identical goes for integrity.

So, it’s not simply integrity in others that we must be cautious about.

How will we ensure that our personal integrity isn’t maintaining us from making good selections? First, we have to acknowledge the necessity for a little bit of nuance that balances consistency with adaptability. Integrity doesn’t need to be all or nothing; we will nonetheless have integrity and stay steadfast in our morality however be taught to evolve in response to new insights.

A technique to do that is by demonstrating integrity in smaller issues. Prioritize reliability and honesty in your on a regular basis actions to domesticate credibility and belief. On the subject of bigger selections, floor your choices in information. The information could not at all times inform us what we need to hear, however they assist mitigate the affect of our cognitive biases and in the end result in higher choices. As John Meynard Keynes supposedly stated, “When the information change, I modify my thoughts.”

Integrity is actually a advantage if it doesn’t result in rigidity. It’s about committing to your rules and tempering them with a little bit of self-awareness and humility. We wish folks to ask questions and adapt as a result of these traits are simply as important to decision-making as our core values and morals. We additionally need you to know that, not like the clique in Imply Ladies, you’ll be able to at all times sit with us (even when it’s not completely clear what you stand for).