Can you trust someone if you know they're wearing a fake brand?
Dan Ariely, the author of a new book about dishonesty, says those who wear fake brands are more likely to lie and cheat than other people.
Slipping on imitation designer duds can fool others, of course. But you'll always know better. Which means wearing knockoffs, particularly if they're good fakes, is a small but undeniable act of duplicity that could say a lot more about you.
Ariely talks about how he and fellow researchers had a group of female subjects take a series of tests while wearing Chloé sunglasses, informing them that the goods were either fake or real.
Repeatedly, the researchers found that those in the knockoff shades were more prone to exageration, if not outright lying.
In one test, subjects were asked to complete a math puzzle and grade themselves privately, knowing they’d be paid more for a higher score. Nearly three quarters of those in the fake glasses inflated their results, while fewer than 30% of those in the brand name glasses cooked their numbers.
According to Ariely, this demonstrated that while everyone had been tempted to cheat and did, those who thought they were wearing fake designer glasses cheated more often.
A willingness to wear knockoff sunglasses or other fashion items sends a message that you're ok with at least some degree of dishonesty, he suggests.
Do you agree? Does sporting fake shades say something about your integrity? Or are you just being frugal?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: Steve | Sep 12, 2021 9:37:25 AM
I see our PM with fake Conservative values so there might just be some truth to this study.
Then again, this snippet only mentions the women subjects as "prone to exaggeration, if not outright lying", so who knows?
Posted by: Realist | Sep 12, 2021 9:57:54 AM
That's a pretty weak arguement that Ariely makes. By the same token I could say that if you are in an elected position then you are 10x more likely to lie.
What needs to be defined better is ... How likely are the test subjects affected by the illusion of social status? Are they consumed by the belief that there are others better than themselves? Are they weak minded and need the the artificial boost of a designer product to prove to themselves that they are better than others? Rationalize these and chances are the test results will follow a close pattern.
The only reason this happens is because we, as humans, want to feel important. Buying a designer brand (or knockoff) is our way of telling others that "I believe I'm better than you". If you have to lie to enhance the illusion then chances are you are doing the same to your spouse, friends, coworkers, etc.
When I meet someone for the first time I consider them my equal. However, if they try to project a sense of superiority over me then (and only then) I'll perceive them as beneath me. Nobody cares about a superficial twit.
Posted by: Stupid Study | Sep 12, 2021 12:36:37 PM
If you don't cheat, you didn't want it bad enough.
Posted by: Halgaroth | Sep 12, 2021 9:31:32 PM
@Stupid Study... unfortunately your stupid comment is now becoming the norm. If you cheat, you don't deserve life. I will terminate anyone's life for cheating. I already have, and I will continue.....
Posted by: Frank | Sep 13, 2021 8:43:15 AM
So if you read between the lines here...........the fashion industry creates the demand for greatly overpriced clothing and accessories.......people respond to the marketing and want to look fashionable but they can't afford the products.......therefore if they buy knock-off labels they can't be trusted. Right!!!! These researchers are smoking something or they work for Gucci, Cardin, Versace.
Posted by: Yes, but... | Sep 13, 2021 10:03:40 AM
Sure they're too expensive -- so skip them altogether. Knockoffs are not a solution. Fake merchandise is directly responsible for the loss of North American jobs, human trafficking, child labour and is used to launder money to fund more illegal activity. Buying them make you complicit and, yes, less trustworthy.
Posted by: SP | Sep 13, 2021 1:28:28 PM
I think that I'd have to agree with Frank. Sounds like just another extortion attempt by big business.
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As for Yes, but....'s comment. Fake merchandise is directly responsible for child labour and human trafficking? So the 1970's Toyota Celica and Aston Martin copies of Ford's late 1960's Mustang lead to child Labour and Human Trafficking? Wow, just wow.
Posted by: Mr. Negative | Sep 13, 2021 8:26:46 PM
Another article looking to divide. It should also be mentioned that the bootleg industry is estimated at approx 600 billion. The funny thing is, the same people who are building the real things for pennies a day, are probably the same people building the knock offs and making a lot more off of them.