Penny Milner-Smyth CEEEC 2019 | Opatija | Croatia

Neuroscience and ethicsNeuroznanost i etika

Why good people do bad things at work

Engaging workplace integrity

Greetings from South Africa

Sanibonani zonkeHi everyone

(I see all of you)

Yebo, sanibonaniYes, hi

(We see you too)

I greet you in the isiZulu language spoken in my home province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

About Ethicalways

Penny Milner-Smyth | South Africa

Compliance Association currently offered in 46

countries

Author of the Specialist Certificate in Anti-Corruption accredited by

the International

MA Research Psychology (Neuropsychology)

Registered Master HR Practitioner (SABPP)

Member of The Ethics Institute (South Africa)

Business Ethics Network Africa

Board Member: Ethics Institute Zimbabwe

25 years’ experience in-house HR executive

20 years + experience in development of ethical workplace cultures

Speaker and writer on employee ethics and engagement and anti-corruption

Introduction | uvod

This is a talk about why good people do bad things at

work

Insights from neuroscience

To

understand

behaviour

we must

understand

how the

brain works

Brain myths and facts

Myths | Mitovi

• We only use a small part of our brains

• Our brain has unlimited capacity

• We are adults when we are 18 years old

Facts | Činjenicama

• We use our whole brain all of the time

• Important parts of our brain have very limited capacity

• We are only fully mature around 32 years

Three parts of brain of special interest to a discussion of good judgement

Pre-Frontal Cortex

Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Limbic System

Pre-Frontal Cortex

Insight

Judgement

Evaluation

Inhibition

Self-awareness

Limbic System

including the amygdala

Attention

Threats

Memory

In the brain, what are the experiences that create cognitive chaos or cognitive

order?

Ambiguity

Unpredictability

Certainty

Predictability

The role of policies and procedures

Ensure fairness and consistency

Reduce ambiguity

Cater for fair and just decisions

Social isolation

Physical pain vs psychological pain

Belonging and inclusion

Disrespect and humiliation

So fundamental a human need that the emotion aroused by humiliation makes

rational action near impossible

Esteem, dignity and respect

So fundamental a human need that the emotion aroused by humiliation makes

rational action near impossible

Fairness

• Raising expectations

• Favouritism

• Not giving honest feedback

• Lack of recognition

Managing expectations, performance and reward

Autonomy

Psychological safety

Does the workplacedevelop honesty?

Impact of socio-economic factors

Burden of dependency

Are choices always between right and wrong?

The role of controls

Three options of response to psychological threat

• Fight

• Flight

• Freeze

Positive impact

Negative impact

Summary: What helps and what hinders rational thinking at work

Unpredictability

Social isolation

Disrespect

Humiliation

Unfairness

Indignity

Powerlessness

Certainty

Belonging

Inclusion

Status

Self-esteem

Fairness

Dignity

Respect

Autonomy

Does crime pay…in the brain?

At a physical level the brain finds decency much more rewarding

than deception

Let’s put the moral back into morale.

Worst self

Best selfSusceptible to

doing bad

Suggestible to doing good

Did you know that the humble bee can stop a herd of elephants in their tracks? Read this inspiring true story with implications for compliance professionals here

Thank you

Please connect with me

penny@ethicalways.co.zawww.ethicalways.co.za

+27 82 6531140

@pjmilnersmyth

Ethicalways

@ethicalways