CBB Seminar | Social Seminar ~ Jillian Jordan, Faculty, Harvard Business School

Social Seminar

Jillian Jordan ~ Assistant Professor of Business Administration Negotiation, Organizations & Markets Unit, Harvard Business School

Title: How do reputation motives shape (or warp) moralistic punishment?
Abstract: A key feature of human morality is our tendency to condemn and punish wrongdoing. In this talk, I will explore how reputation motives—and in particular the desire to appear moral in the eyes of others—shape the ways that we punish, for better or for worse. I will begin by asking how reputation motives influence our tendency to punish alleged wrongdoing “without looking” (i.e., without careful consideration of whether punishment is merited). Next, I will ask how reputation motives shape our willingness to punish in ambiguous situations, when it is unclear (even after considering relevant information) whether punishment is merited. I will also compare the influence of reputation motives on punishment in ambiguous versus unambiguous situations, shedding light on how reputation motives shape our sensitivity to nuance (i.e., our tendency to differentiate between ambiguous and unambiguous situations). Finally, I will ask what kind of condemnation receives the greatest reputational rewards on social media, and consider the implications for how social media platforms may be shaping condemnation behavior.

***CBB and Social talks this semester will be meet on Thursdays, 12:00-1:15pm at NORTHWEST Bldg, B101 AUDITORIUM  (due to the ongoing construction in WJH Plaza).***