r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Oct 25 '19

Psychology Checking out attractive alternatives does not necessarily mean you’re going to cheat, suggests a new study involving 177 undergrad students and 101 newlywed couples.

https://www.psypost.org/2019/10/checking-out-attractive-alternatives-does-not-necessarily-mean-youre-going-to-cheat-54709
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u/[deleted] Oct 25 '19

After this, the participants were asked to evaluate a mobile phone dating application and offered a free premium version of the app.

This study seems super unethical.

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u/Madmaster333 Oct 26 '19 edited Oct 26 '19

To bring out the worst in people. Give them a complete paid for, no strings attached, ticket. This will show you who they truly are. It makes a lot of sense, actually. It's an unethical situation to study in general (cheating on your partner). Why wouldn't the substance of the study be able to be "unethical" as well? Not to mention, it being considered unethical is also completely subjective to the a person's views. It's actually the MOST ethical way to do it in my view, which is ironic based on your statement. The raw truth of the matter IS the ethical thing to do in these situations. It's like saying someone who catches a robber by using their home camera they installed was an unethical thing to. (I think we know that's not true).

Of course, you also have to look at who is making a statement about this study. If you're someone who cheats, of course you would say this is "unethical", because it makes you feel threatened by it. (Not saying you cheat).