OAM 330 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Ethics describes... - Answers - the investigation and analysis of moral principles and
dilemmas
Ethics refers to... - Answers - the rules or guidelines whether conduct is right or wrong
Ethical theories are... - Answers - attempts to provide a clear account for what our moral
obligations are
Consequentialism - Answers - Ethical theory that judges whethersomething is right by
outcomes or consequences
▪ "The end justifies the means"
▪ Example: Lying is wrong, but lying is theright thing to do if it could save someone's life
Utilitarianism - Answers - Greatest good for greatest number of people
Hedonism - Answers - Something is good if it produces pleasure or avoids pain
Pros of Consequentialism - Answers - ▪ Can be pragmatic and efficient
▪ Focuses on collective and not just individual benefit
Cons of Consequentialism - Answers - ▪ Can be difficult (or impossible) to know what
result of action will be
▪ Leads to objectionable decisions even if consequences are good
Deontology - Answers - Ethical theory that uses rules to distinguish right from wrong
▪ "Don't lie. Don't steal. Don't cheat."
▪ Example: An engineer hears about a potential nuclear threat, but hesitates to hack a
network because it is wrong to "break in without permission"
Pros of Deontology - Answers - - More easily applicable
- Less subjectivity and uncertainty
Cons of Deontology - Answers - - disregards possible consequences of actions
- can produce results many people find unacceptable
Virtue Ethics - Answers - Ethical theory that focuses on moral character of a person
▪ "Follow your moral compass"
▪ Example: A virtuous person should work on treating all human beings equally through
practice and habit
Pros of Virtue Ethics - Answers - ▪ Gives people a guiding framework without specific
rules
, ▪ Focuses on growth and development
Cons of Virtue Ethics - Answers - ▪ Some virtues are inconsistent with others
▪ No consistent application across cultures
Ethics as a slippery slope - Answers - Failure to have an ethical code leads people to
make questionable in the moment decisions
- Easy to lull yourself into thinking you won't commit unethical acts
- You must have a personal and consistent code
Psychological effects of power (star game takeaway) - Answers - ▪ Self-serving biases
increase
▪ More likely to hold stereotypes of thosewithout power
▪ More likely to believe systems are fair andjust
Power - Answers - Ability to influence behavior of others to get what you want
▪ "Get things done the way you want them"
Power distribution - Answers - Generally a consensus amongst people when asked who
holds power in organizations; usually highly visible
Power paradox - Answers - ▪ People typically rise in power throughadvancing interests
of others and empathy
▪ Once people get power, people tend to become more selfish
Negative consequences of power (behavioral) - Answers - Disinhibition; self-focus;
reduced perspective taking
Disinhibition - Answers - Power can be intoxicating and lead people to feel invincible
• Speaking behavior: More likely to take up more time, interrupt, or express unsolicited
opinions
• Social behavior: More likely to take action without permission
• Risk behavior: More optimistic assessments of risk
Self-focus - Answers - • Power allows people to be less dependent on others
• As a result, people become less concerned with how others see them
• Powerful people are more likely to view others through instrumental terms
Perspective-taking - Answers - • Power leads to reduced compassion or less emotional
reactivity
• Recognizing emotions: Less likely to infer others' thoughts or attitudes or take
perspective of others
• Reduced social perception: Less likely to remember individuating information about
people
Ethics describes... - Answers - the investigation and analysis of moral principles and
dilemmas
Ethics refers to... - Answers - the rules or guidelines whether conduct is right or wrong
Ethical theories are... - Answers - attempts to provide a clear account for what our moral
obligations are
Consequentialism - Answers - Ethical theory that judges whethersomething is right by
outcomes or consequences
▪ "The end justifies the means"
▪ Example: Lying is wrong, but lying is theright thing to do if it could save someone's life
Utilitarianism - Answers - Greatest good for greatest number of people
Hedonism - Answers - Something is good if it produces pleasure or avoids pain
Pros of Consequentialism - Answers - ▪ Can be pragmatic and efficient
▪ Focuses on collective and not just individual benefit
Cons of Consequentialism - Answers - ▪ Can be difficult (or impossible) to know what
result of action will be
▪ Leads to objectionable decisions even if consequences are good
Deontology - Answers - Ethical theory that uses rules to distinguish right from wrong
▪ "Don't lie. Don't steal. Don't cheat."
▪ Example: An engineer hears about a potential nuclear threat, but hesitates to hack a
network because it is wrong to "break in without permission"
Pros of Deontology - Answers - - More easily applicable
- Less subjectivity and uncertainty
Cons of Deontology - Answers - - disregards possible consequences of actions
- can produce results many people find unacceptable
Virtue Ethics - Answers - Ethical theory that focuses on moral character of a person
▪ "Follow your moral compass"
▪ Example: A virtuous person should work on treating all human beings equally through
practice and habit
Pros of Virtue Ethics - Answers - ▪ Gives people a guiding framework without specific
rules
, ▪ Focuses on growth and development
Cons of Virtue Ethics - Answers - ▪ Some virtues are inconsistent with others
▪ No consistent application across cultures
Ethics as a slippery slope - Answers - Failure to have an ethical code leads people to
make questionable in the moment decisions
- Easy to lull yourself into thinking you won't commit unethical acts
- You must have a personal and consistent code
Psychological effects of power (star game takeaway) - Answers - ▪ Self-serving biases
increase
▪ More likely to hold stereotypes of thosewithout power
▪ More likely to believe systems are fair andjust
Power - Answers - Ability to influence behavior of others to get what you want
▪ "Get things done the way you want them"
Power distribution - Answers - Generally a consensus amongst people when asked who
holds power in organizations; usually highly visible
Power paradox - Answers - ▪ People typically rise in power throughadvancing interests
of others and empathy
▪ Once people get power, people tend to become more selfish
Negative consequences of power (behavioral) - Answers - Disinhibition; self-focus;
reduced perspective taking
Disinhibition - Answers - Power can be intoxicating and lead people to feel invincible
• Speaking behavior: More likely to take up more time, interrupt, or express unsolicited
opinions
• Social behavior: More likely to take action without permission
• Risk behavior: More optimistic assessments of risk
Self-focus - Answers - • Power allows people to be less dependent on others
• As a result, people become less concerned with how others see them
• Powerful people are more likely to view others through instrumental terms
Perspective-taking - Answers - • Power leads to reduced compassion or less emotional
reactivity
• Recognizing emotions: Less likely to infer others' thoughts or attitudes or take
perspective of others
• Reduced social perception: Less likely to remember individuating information about
people
