Hypocrisy, according to usual definitions, means not practicing what we preach, saying one thing and doing another, or publicly upholding moral norms for others to follow, but personally violating them in private.
Social psychologists distinguish many varieties of hypocrisy. “People do not always do things for the reasons they profess, be this due to deliberate deception or non-conscious self-deception”, say Graham et al (2015).
Three relevant types are Moral Duplicity, Double Standard and Moral Weakness.
--Moral Duplicity (also Moral Deception): Assuming a false appearance of virtue or morality by preaching one thing while doing another, or publicly admonishing others for things one actually does oneself.
--Double Standard: When individuals’ evaluations of their own moral transgressions differ substantially from their evaluations of the same transgressions enacted by others (Valdesolo & DeSteno [2007]). Plainly said, the rules apply to others, but not to them.
--Moral Weakness: When people just fail to live up to their moral values. “Inconsistency between one’s stated intention and one’s subsequent behavior is a simple inability to follow through, for lack of ability, resources, or willpower. This differs from hypocrisy in that the intentions may have been stated in good faith while overestimating one’s ability to implement them” (Monin & Merrit, 2012).
Do you think that some or all of these kinds of hypocrisy are common among people in your field, university or workplace?
How do these attitudes and practices affect you? How do you deal with them?
See:
Graham, J., Meindl, P., Spassena Koleva, S., Ravi Iyer, R, & Johnson, K. (2015): When Values and Behavior Conflict: Moral Pluralism and Intrapersonal Moral Hypocrisy, Social and Personality Psychology Compass 9/3 (2015), pp. 158–170,
Monin, B., & Merritt, A. (2012). Moral Hypocrisy, Moral Inconsistency, and the Struggle for Moral Integrity. In M. Mikulincer & P. Shaver (Eds.), The Social Psychology of Morality: Exploring the Causes of Good and Evil, pp. 167–184. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Valdesolo, P., & DeSteno, D. (2007); Moral hypocrisy: Social Groups and the Flexibility of Virtue, Psychological Science, 18, pp. 689–690.
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"When hypocrisy is a character trait, it also affects one's thinking, because it consists in the negation of all the aspects of reality that one finds disagreeable, irrational or repugnant."
---- Octavio Paz
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"Hypocrisy is a homage that vice pays to virtue."
----- (Indian Proverb)
José,
I do not know if this qualifies. I do not have a degree, but I have earned the respect and trust of those I have worked with to know that I am a consummate professional whose reputation means everything. That being said, I was the head analyst and supervisor of an archaeological lab. The lab director assigned me to teach several new hires lithic analysis. After several days one of them, an M.S., found out that I did not have a degree and refused to listen to what I had to teach. The lab director basically told him that I was his supervisor and he stood behind me. This, to me, is a double standard when an expert in a field is listened to, but then scorned just because she/he has no degree.
I also know a former lab director of a major university archaeological lab who was the director for 16 years. At some point the state legislature found out that she was not degreed and had her removed from her position. There was an uproar with archaeologists and historians who worked in the state and they boycotted until she was reinstated.
Dear José Eduardo, sometimes we have problems separating courtesy from hypocrisy. It is very important to understand that, in the workplace, we have to be colleagues, not necessarily friends. Sincerity is a good ally of good manners and courtesy, basic elements of a good work setting. And colleagues must be courteous so that the atmosphere in the workplace can be peaceful and productive. Most times I am called a hypocrite, I am just being courteous, minutely so. Courtesy is basically being good-mannered. My guess is that we need to mature a little bit so that people can get along in the workplace without being subject to the high demands of a good friendship. If we start with good manners, it might happen that some of us will become good friends. But friendship cannot be forced or become a requirement. By the way, your definition of hypocrisy is actually that which Peter Sloterdjick —in his important book Critique of Cynical Reason— calls "cynicism". Hypocrisy is less dangerous, and does not necessarily have to do with morals, as cynicism definitely does. We often deem "hypocrisy" when a person forces his or her good manners, or smiles or seems too friendly, or just does not know how to behave in stressful situations. Courtesy needs practice and understanding. I have seen to many injustices from people who think being sincere is the best thing to do, despite the circumstances. Let's not mistake cynicism for hypocrisy and vice versa. It is a matter of learning to be kind and courteous without making it a requisite for sincere behavior in the workplace. After all, not everybody hides a monster behind hypocrisy, most hypocrites do not want to take away your bank account and what they "hide" is not important, but vacuous and inconsequential. Maybe we should also temper a little bit our penchant for paranoia. Not all clerks and employees of department stores are hypocrites just because they smile and tell you nice things...
I must say that there are bad people among my colleagues. They are not hypocrites but cynics. They really lie and destroy projects. Such evil behavior goes well beyond hypocrisy. Here in RG most colleagues call me "dear Lilliana", and I have never felt that they were hypocrites but just nicely courteous and amiable.
Telling lies is something else. Falsehood is a problem when it is about something serious. Stupid lies should just be forgotten.
We should not be so judgmental of the foibles of others. If you believe somebody is a hypocrite, just keep an amiable distance and have your courtesy to speak for you.
Best regards, Lilliana
Dear Liliana:
You have a good point. Psychologists also say that what we call "hypocrisy" is not always undesirable (although it usually is). Sometimes, for example, we have to say something we don't think, because we have good (moral) reasons to do so.
Dear James:
Your stories have left me thinking. Do you know that Jorge Luis Borges, the best known Argentine writer, didn't have a degree?
José Eduardo, thank you for bringing Borges in. Storytellers are not hypocrites, and many of us like to tell stories, sometimes tweaking reality a bit. Too much imagination can be taken from hypocrisy. I think the whole affair is quite the opposite: most of those who call another a hypocrite have a problem themselves, they are who have a "double standard" pointing to the usually unoffensive foibles of others. I have seen many a scene in department meetings where somebody calls the other a hypocrite and that other shouts back "It is you who are a hypocrite!". I usually get up and go for a cup of coffee just not to listen this pseudo-moral drama among what are supposed to be peers. Marjorie Garber called this "academic envy", which can be very nasty, may even be fatal. I believe that envy is much worse than hypocrisy. Envious colleagues can really kill you...
Best regards, Lilliana
Dear José,
Hypocrisy and double standard are ancient surviving strategies. Remember the Pharisees in the Bible. Unfortunately, these qualities are frequent characteristics among people, scientists as well around me. The problem is that these people are aware that they can do anything in their own interests. Of course this behaviour becomes slowly their dominant character. Alas, it is impossible to persuade these men because they prepares a defence philosophy which is but a delusion.
Dear José Eduardo,
In universities and in many work place, working embeded in a war of passions. And in the name of the "social" position of some, hypocrisy receives an immense attention and it grows like weed. What to do about it? Just play dead. Those people in one way or the other will hurt themselves. What should companies do? Write protocols of conduct and watch if it is observed by their staff.
Dear all:
If you want to get rid of hypocrites, do not pay them attention. What I see is that people love to call others "hypocrites". Why? After all, it seems that hypocrisy shows, so it should be easy to stay apart from hypocrites. Maybe the double standard lies on the side of those who love to call others "hypocrites". Is it really necessary to persecute hypocrites if everybody knows who they are? Isn't this an overkill? In my school of architecture we do not concentrate on hypocrisy, but in people who actually do harm to projects, deprive students of their grade they really deserve, and do other things that are really harmful and are subject to disciplinary measures that can cost them their jobs. That I know, our university regulations do not consider hypocrisy a disciplinary issue. I bet that your universities neither. Disliking a hypocrite does not carry removal of the hypocrite from his or her tenure or contract. As far as I know, hypocrisy, in itself is not a crime... Why is that?
Best regards, Lilliana
I don't think that hypocrisy and double standard are so prevalent among people in my field and university. However, I experienced the followings:
(1) The manuscript that I, as a reviewer, suggested to the editor of a Japanese journal to reject it (it was actually rejected) was published in an American journal. From its date of receiving, I found that the manuscript was submitted to the two journals at the same time (double submission for academic journals is prohibited).
(2) In the final remarks of another manuscript submitted to the same Japanese journal, I, again as a reviewer, found a sentence copied from my paper published earlier (plagiarism). The manuscript had many weak points, too, and I suggested to the editor to reject it (it was also rejected).
How prevalent are hypocrisy and double standard among people in your field, university or workplace? How do you deal with it?
To me hypocrisy & double standard are examples of integrity problem of a person. Hypocrisy & double standard do happen in various fields from individual, group, organization or even country perspective.
We can't stop other parties becoming hypocrites or applying double standard, but what we can do is to do our best to excel ourselves in the midst of unfair treatment / unfair disadvantage to prove that excellent performance is independent of special preferences etc. Of course we should also abstain ourselves from becoming hypocrites, practicing double standard, prejudice, favoritism, bias etc.
I think hypocrisy is just part of human nature, there is it more or less in every person. My policy is just to let it alone, i.e. I will know that one is being hypocratic, but I won't show my reactions. How pathetic people have to put false faces towards other people.
Let us look at this from family and parenting perspective. It is the family environment or surroundings that teaches that being incompetent at something is " Not Desirable' The fact is one can not be good at everything and it is perfectly OK to be incompetent at something. But society and culture does not promote people to " BE THYSELF" and this how children learn to be hypocrite so that they could be accepted and loved by others.
Whenever I face any person who is hypocrite, I try to be normal with him and somehow I convey the message that It is OK to be normal and incomplete/imperfect and I will still accept you even if you do not have all such qualities/claims etc.
Philadelphia, PA
Dear all,
I find it difficult to fault any of the answers given here so far. Often the complaints about hypocrisy are as hypocritical as anything else one might care to mention under this heading. I count it just as important to avoid puritanical attitudes, as it is to avoid hypocrisy. The effects of the critical, puritanical attitudes are often more prevalent and longer lasting than the effects of hypocrisy. To disdain moralism is another matter entirely.
I think, too, that the contrast between what people say and what they do can easily be exaggerated, where someone has an ax to grind. There is a difference, say, between the moral philosopher and the political activist, and the moral philosopher, in my view has more reason to refrain from involvement and a greater interest in maintaining impartiality and thoughtful distance. The political activists, however, never quite see it that way. Whenever I see one of those T-shirts with the slogan "Just do it," I immediately think, "No, please, stop and think first!" Does just one side have the better of that difference in attitude?
"Hypocrisy," it is often said, "is the compliment which vice pays to virtue." There is much truth in that saying. If someone is in total denial of what they are doing and the conflict of that with their professed beliefs, then it is often better to insist on recognition of the high-aimed expression than to criticize it in comparison with something else. Take them at their word and look for improvements. Maybe even put yourself in a position to insist on them! Its a matter of judgment.
H.G. Callaway
Dear José Eduardo Jorge,
Hypocrisy - are people saying one thing and doing another.
Hypocrisy - duplicity is sin, the spiritual malaise of the human soul to be confession in the sacrament of confession.
Regards, Shafagat
For those there are one good way to deal is
1) Be Straight Forward with them
2) Don`t trust on verbal saying and do deal in black and white.
3) Where ever necessary there must give them answer in gathering, if you are directly getting hit by their hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is habit for few who do believe on win/lose in dealings and they are some fearful and weak in their behavior so they adopt such way by which no one can catch them and they can perform as according to their will and then it become habit due to short term success in achieving the goals...........But the biggest drawback of this habit is that they can run the system but cant command efficiently like an honest person and getting weaker morally day by day.
Hypocrisy is prevalent at all the places. To deal with them -
One can confront them directly and hopefully they may understand!
Ignore them but be careful - they may take advantage.
Listen to them very attentively with a smirk on your face!!
Hypocrisy is a softer version of outright lie. The practitioner of hypocrisy is lying in a round about way. This needs sophistication , being well educated even clever. You can find examples of this in the west. But, if you have no talent, you can still be a lair. In some countries lie is a tool of governing. But, to hide its ugliness, they call it "white lie" . This is practiced in the east.
If the government use "white lie" very soon becomes the practice of everybody. In such places you never know who is lying. It becomes part of the culture.
I don't blame the population if the lie. For them this is a mechanism of survival.
Fallen Man will always have hypocacy. So, take it on the chin in many cases. It is an every day affair in any and all institutions--including educational ones.
You don't have to participate. That is the key. Or, at least try to avoid it and be true to some honorable code as educator and worker for change wherever you go.
In a simple word: Hypocrisy is an "art of tongue-twisting" function of time and space, whose owner lacks all social understanding!
In the field of survey research is given a typical lack of consistency (dynamic inconsistency, some would say) with respect to the predictive ability of the studies: if you "atman" obviously are predictors; if they are inaccurate, they blame a reality that makes it impossible to predict with certainty in the field. In addition, it is common that is claimed in the other quality tests in the field work and operation of the studies that hardly could actually be corroborated in itself (beyond the unhelpful and bureaucratic compliance document that norms and standards are followed "quality"). Thus we live. At least personally, I try to aware of this propensity me to the double moral and reveal the limits and anomalies of work in this field and avoid self-indulgence (a very recent example of this was the publication of an article in Spanish: "Las encuestas electorales en México: alcances y límites", Revista Mexicana de Estudios Electorales, Núm. 16, Sociedad Mexicana de Estudios Electorales, México, enero-junio de 2016, pp. 8-36.
http://somee.org.mx/rmestudioselectorales/index.php/RMEstudiosElectorales/article/view/178/pdf_18
Dear José et al,
I will answer yes to: "Do you think that some or all of these kinds of hypocrisy are common among people in your field, university or workplace?";
In terms of :"How do these attitudes and practices affect you? How do you deal with them?" the answer is: doing meditation because it helps me to understand better the ignorance and let me continue my hapiness...i can not control others but i can adpat myself in order not to be hurt by others...ie, like statistics i try to minimize the errors (ex the bad effect of others on me) in a way "take good decisions"....in this dinamic world full of people that perhaps have in common the goal of happiness...
Have a nice time
Helena
How prevalent are hypocrisy and double standard among people in your field, university or workplace? How do you deal with it? - ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_prevalent_are_hypocrisy_and_double_standard_among_people_in_your_field_university_or_workplace_How_do_you_deal_with_it [accessed May 1, 2016].
Thanks for the invitation, Dear José for this sensitive question. I agree with some parts of your subsequent comments when exposing the question, with some slight differences. Generically speaking, in a Universal context, ethics and moral norms or moral conduits are always for ourselves. Nobody can impose ethics or moral norms to others. With respect to hypocrisy, really in fact sometimes there are great differences between the appearances and the reality. Christians believe that Jesus Christ never sinned and was perhaps one of the few that never has accused no one. According with two well-known Portuguese proverbs/expressions “Only speaks of ears who is eary” and “Appearances can be deceiving.”
On the other hand, if sometimes some persons are polite or kind, or remain silent, particularly when observing a clear mistake or obvious stupidity, scientific or not, out of their sphere of competence, and they do not want to hurt unnecessarily nobody, it may be probably merely a matter of education, respect, and kindness, not cynicism or hypocrisy. In some circumstances and according to the proverb “Ignorance is bliss”, or may be (?), and it is likely that some people still believe (not me) that “the more ignorant are the happier”. Even worse than cynicism or hypocrisy for me is when such ignorance and weakness is used for manipulation in some political contexts.
See the links:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ignorance_is_bliss
http://forums.philosophyforums.com/threads/are-ignorant-people-happier-59411.html
An alternative is to sharpen its own intuition so that the hypocrisy can be screened. If this is understood it's much easier to deal with it because those who understand the situation have the power to cope with it.
There is in many ways a movement going on to lead people to collude in 'playing false' Many assumptions are not even admitted into discussion. There is an unspoken requirement that everyone must subscribe certain assumptions and that no one should even mention that these assumptions indeed exist.
There is a lot of misinformation in circulation. Many artists are making people aware of prejudices and rigidity fixed attitudes. But creativity should be more accepted in all areas of society. Art itself is too isolated to penetrate the whole of institutions.
Hypocrisy in the workplace is prevelsnt I took a job in what was proported to be a state of the art nursing home listing a number of different services that they would provide the brochure was filled with nothing but lies and the nursing home provided a minimal standard of care. The management's only interest was the financial profit they would make from their elderly clientele. Carers who worked there had no time to engage with the resident/ client and if they sat down to interact they got reprimand. They told visitors looking at the brochure what they wanted to hear but what was provide bore no resemblance to what was on paper. The head over nurses when asked by an elderly client if she could bring her to the toilet was told by same woman can't you see I'm busy to which the elderly lady retorted you think your too posh and grand to bring me there. The same nursing director would have reprimanded another staff member of the behaved in a similar fashion this to me was pure hypocrisy I on an occasion told a Clint they had to wait because three others asked for toilet before her and I could only take 1 person at a time as I was on my own with no help other staff were busy and I got reprimanded now that's hypocrisy for you. I am sure it not the only work environment that hypocrisy occurs in. Now when I hear someone say a state of the art nursing ho.e is opening I take it with a pinch of salt as I wonder what hypocrisy and lies are you going to tell your unsuspecting clients and customers
Why only at work, now it's present even in families
Men have changed and no longer hold female gender role of being a housewife, men prefer women to work. Yet it seems like gender roles havent changed for men. Women still view men as a wallet and men who want to be house husbands or work part time so then they can look after children are seen as lesser men. The value for man comes from how large is their paycheque.
Recession and role of men in family
Dear all,
Hypocrisy and double standard in my field of work are not rare, but neither are most common. I think there is still a large number of "naive", sincere, honest and clear people. But as we all know, no lack the hypocrite in nowhere. The fake person who does a lot of damage until it is unmasked.
Personally I trust my intuition, which complement with close observation of people around my, especially those that are linked by my work directly. I walk away from the hypocrites. I withdraw my confidence. I put them in quarantine. I treat them without forgetting that they are dangerous.
For my part, I continue my life as I like: without lapels.
Thanks
Hypocrisy & double standards are a recurring decimal in my University. I handle it by frankly correcting it. However, it has not been easy carrying out such corrections. If care is not taking, you end up becoming the accused.
Hypocrisy is lying.It's a normal thing for business, politics, slavery,officialdom, authoritarian regime, nepotism, corruption...Behind the mask it's comfortable to make dirty things.Not to be but seem to be is the formula of success!!!
Everybody boast, it depends on person to person. We discount the boast to reach to reality.
Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing.
--- Edmund Burke
We need to deal with them very carefully if they are indispensable. If you can correct it go ahead ( normally it is impossible!!!). The best way is to sideline and neglect those kind of people. If they
People relate to the spirit of the band, which is to live your way and succeed on your own terms. There's no hypocrisy in being successful and still railing against conformity. Paul Stanley
Hipocracy and double standards are more or less a common feature . We need to learn either to live with it or fight it out from roots , latter is far more difficult , so it is our art of living to deal with such necessary nuances.
Hi there...
Hypocrisy and double standards are prevalent at work place and elsewhere because of their contagious nature. They drive the people to do the wrong for marginal gains.
Hypocrisy may appear in any place, in any time. Jesus condemned the hypocrits, a spetial group of his time.
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"Discretion is the polite word for hypocrisy."
--- Christine Keeler
I have come across several such people. Once , I know them I ,eithrr tried to avoid them or react cautiously.
Thanks for the invitation.
From my own experience, hypocricy and double standard are more frequent practices for people who face some kind of stress, as in the case of my country Greece, which is suffered by economic (and not only) crisis.
I do not like hypocricy (and double standard) and I attempt my deals to be characterized by consistency.
I think, it's masquerading and unconvincing disguise of inequality and criminal activity.
Hypocrisy & double standard exist in every field & do a lot of damage to colleagues & Institutions . But , over a period of time , they get exposed & their reputation is damaged . The problem is that they are aware of what is right & wrong & deliberately take the wrong route for temporary gain , without realizing the consequences of their unethical actions . They are exposed by their own colleagues , who do not tolerate it beyond a point . Success in life should not be achieved by hypocrisy or double standards , as this highlights lack of personal moral values . In science , it is honesty , trust & ethical values which finally triumphs .
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"There are three things in the world that deserve no mercy, hypocrisy, fraud, and tyranny."
---- Frederick William Robertson
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"Hypocrisy is the mother of peace."
(Moorish Proverb)
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing.
Edmund Burke
Dear José Eduardo:
I do not deal with it, I just live.
Best Regards.
"The signs of the hypocrite are there: That he utters falsehood when he speaks and that he breaks his promise and that he betrays when entrusted"
~ Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)
According to quote, three signs of hypocrisy are:
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
Hypocrisy is a detriment to progress. There's always a hidden agenda.
Larry Flynt
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
Hypocrisy is the essence of snobbery, but all snobbery is about the problem of belonging.
(Alexander Theroux)
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
Hypocrisy is the scarlet letter in politics.
---- Mark McKinnon
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
Hypocrisy and distortion are passing currents under the name of religion.
----- (Mahatma Gandhi)
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
Honest discussions - even and perhaps especially on topics about which we disagree - can help us resist hypocrisy and arrogance. They can also help us live up to the basic ideals, such as liberty and justice for all, on which our country was founded.
---- David Price
Dear all,
Hypocrisy do happen in various fields and we should do our best for being fair and independent in our performance with others. We should always think in doing the best to add value to others life, being kind and with empathy to all.
Have a nice time
Helena
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy.
----- William Hazlitt
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
Hypocrisy is a homage that vice pays to virtue.
----- (Indian Proverb)
'You do not know how the absolute skepticism is fun. You can play with other people's hypocrisy as who plays with Russian roulette with the certainty that the weapon is unloaded.' (Millor Fernandes)
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