Memories of unethical actions become obfuscated over time

Maryam Kouchaki and Francesca Gino
PNAS May 31, 2016 113 (22) 6166-6171; published ahead of print May 16, 2016 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1523586113

  1. Edited by Susan T. Fiske, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, and approved April 19, 2016 (received for review November 29, 2015)

Article Figures & SI

Figures

Tables

  • Table S1.

    Means (SDs) of responses by condition in study 1a

    MeasuresUnethicalEthicalNegativePositiveNeutral
    Clarity5.38 (1.17)a6.00 (0.88)b5.90 (0.91)b5.99 (0.86)b5.98 (0.90)b
    Sensory3.07 (1.60)a3.53 (1.56)a,b3.14 (1.69)a3.53 (1.83)a,b3.83 (1.85)b
    Time context4.84 (1.29)a5.42 (1.32)b5.38 (1.41)b5.61 (1.30)b5.69 (1.22)b
    Spatial context5.53 (1.18)a5.91 (1.07)b5.70 (1.09)a,b5.97 (0.97)b,c6.17 (0.81)c
    Thoughts and feelings5.07 (1.07)a5.92 (1.02)b5.61 (0.97)c5.96 (0.85)b5.35 (1.16)a,c
    Intensity of feelings4.64 (1.39)a5.25 (1.30)b5.27 (1.44)b5.30 (1.37)b3.89 (1.55)c
    Timing7.86 (1.77)a7.86 (1.34)a7.73 (1.66)a7.51 (1.99)a2.54 (1.16)b
    Positive affect2.37 (0.92)a3.06 (0.97)b2.43 (0.77)a2.99 (0.85)b2.83 (0.84)b
    Negative affect1.73 (0.82)a1.25 (0.37)b1.73 (0.79)a1.31 (0.54)b1.31 (0.54)b
    Bad–good4.23 (1.69)a5.65 (1.37)b4.48 (1.64)a5.85 (1.27)b5.56 (1.29)b
    Sad–happy4.12 (1.71)a5.48 (1.57)b4.17 (1.63)a5.73 (1.28)b5.46 (1.40)b
    Tense–relaxed4.36 (1.84)a5.42 (1.61)b4.56 (1.66)a5.79 (1.32)b5.47 (1.57)b
    Negative–positive4.32 (1.67)a5.64 (1.40)b4.37 (1.60)a5.89 (1.30)b5.53 (1.43)b
    Uncomfortable–comfortable4.58 (1.77)a5.60 (1.38)b4.78 (1.71)a5.91 (1.20)b5.69 (1.39)b
    Distressed–satisfied4.33 (1.71)a5.57 (1.50)b4.39 (1.53)a5.60 (1.32)b5.03 (1.61)b
    Time spent on writing (in seconds)227.29 (137.43)a271.24 (178.81)a,b285.63 (178.55)b256.94 (156.08)a,b248.65 (159.09)a,b
    Number of words107.46 (61.14)a125.36 (75.31)a,b134.09 (81.49)b105.21 (59.70)a,c112.79 (68.05)a,b

    • Means not sharing subscripts within rows are significantly different at P < 0.05 based on Fisher’s least significant difference post hoc paired comparisons.

  • Table S2.

    Means (SDs) of responses by condition in study 1b

    MeasuresUnethical-selfEthical-selfUnethical-otherEthical-other
    Clarity5.58 (1.19)a6.07 (0.81)b5.54 (1.11)a5.55 (1.13)a
    Sensory2.74 (1.38)a3.57 (1.46)b2.67 (1.29)a2.80 (1.43)a
    Time context5.66 (1.13)a6.08 (0.91)b5.44 (1.32)a,c5.38 (1.51)a,b
    Spatial context4.89 (1.75)a5.49 (1.34)b4.69 (1.61)a5.21 (1.47)a
    Thoughts and feelings5.49 (0.98)a5.93 (0.84)b5.38 (1.28)a5.24 (1.21)a
    Intensity of feelings5.02 (1.39)a5.27 (1.36)a5.02 (1.37)a4.55 (1.39)b
    Timing7.98 (1.73)a7.73 (1.64)a8.09 (1.37)a7.00 (1.77)b
    Positive affect2.37 (0.92)a3.06 (0.97)b2.59 (0.88)c2.87 (0.80)b
    Negative affect1.73 (0.82)a1.25 (0.37)b,c1.55 (0.73)b1.32 (0.52)c
    Bad–good3.84 (1.89)a5.66 (1.43)b4.68 (1.60)c5.60 (1.32)b
    Sad–happy3.66 (1.89)a5.49 (1.56)b4.29 (1.72)c5.36 (1.57)b
    Tense–relaxed4.13 (1.94)a5.42 (1.60)b4.59 (1.83)a5.34 (1.69)b
    Negative–positive3.87 (1.78)a5.73 (1.40)b4.34 (1.84)c5.72 (1.47)b
    Uncomfortable–comfortable3.93 (2.01)a5.51 (1.49)b4.72 (1.71)c5.51 (1.52)b
    Distressed–satisfied3.96 (1.86)a5.38 (1.62)b4.51 (1.67)c5.34 (1.45)b
    Time spent on writing (in seconds)368.35 (383.96)a326.59 (334.81)a337.20 (208.90)a300.64 (235.87)a
    Number of words143.13 (89.72)a126.17 (76.29)a,b135.13 (77.64)b110.11 (74.42)b

    • Means not sharing subscripts within rows are significantly different at the P < 0.05 based on Fisher’s least-significant difference post hoc paired comparisons.

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Leaving our immoral deeds in the past
Maryam Kouchaki, Francesca Gino
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences May 2016, 113 (22) 6166-6171; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1523586113
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