Ethics enhanced by clean smells
I wonder if this is something businesses (including accounting firms) might want to look into: A study at Brigham Young University has found that people are “unconsciously fairer and more generous” in clean-smelling environments.
The research found a dramatic improvement in ethical behavior with just a few spritzes of citrus-scented Windex.
The researchers see implications for workplaces, retail stores and other organizations that have relied on traditional surveillance and security measures to enforce rules.
“Companies often employ heavy-handed interventions to regulate conduct, but they can be costly or oppressive,” said [Katie Liljenquist, assistant professor of organizational leadership at BYU’s Marriott School of Management], whose office smells quite average. “This is a very simple, unobtrusive way to promote ethical behavior.”
I wonder if the persistence of a citrus smell at a business would affect the assessment of audit risk for that business? Maybe a cost-effective way to justify reduced audit testing? I can see it now: “Well, the assessment says we test a sample of 25, but does anyone else smell lemons?”
The study is at this point still “soon to be published,” but the article at BYU’s website details the tests performed to support the conclusions.
I think there is truth in this post. If you smell good, your brain reacts positively and you feel good, and then you can think clearly and wisely. Thus, your reactions to situations are more reasonable.
I was at a conference yesterday and met a guy who does smell research. The guy’s name was Dr. Alan R. Hirsch. He found that some smells can increase/decrease the feeling of time. Cool stuff.
Maybe there is something more than just lemon and vinegar in the Windex.
[…] an earlier post about how clean smells were correlated with more ethically minded decision making is this HBR post about good lighting encouraging the […]