When are people most and least likely to cheat? Researchers posted a picture above the coffee pot in an office that had an “honour system,” and found that people were less likely to cheat when the picture showed eyes than when it showed flowers (Bateson, Nettle, & Roberts, 2006). Other researchers paid people to sit alone in a room and complete puzzles for cash, and found that people were less likely to cheat when the lights were bright than when the lights were low (Zhong, Bohns, & Gino, 2010). Can you explain these two results with a single principle?

(LEFT) MICHELE CONSTANTINI/SUPERSTOCK (RIGHT) PHOTODISC