Blog post #1

Jordan Prader
Melinda Schroeder
English 101
9/27/16

1.) The article "Why We Lie", by Dan Ariely, explains why, how, and when we lie. Ariely uses a variety of experiments to test the average person's honesty. One of these experiments is called the "matrix task", in this test a group of people are given a sheet of paper with matrices on it. Then, they are told to finish as many of the matrices as they can within the time limit and at the end to destroy their sheet and report how many they finished for a reward. Areily also test what could effect this, what would make us cheat more or less? He finds that many people will cheat, but only a little, because they want to remain honest and guilt free. His tests also show that when reminded of morality very few people will lie or cheat. 
2.) Most people cheat a little, but what makes us cheat more or less?
3.) I found that the quote "But locking our doors against the dishonest monsters will not keep them out; the will always cheat their way in. It is the woman down the hallway - the sweet one who could not even carry away your flat-screen TV if she wanted to- who needs to be reminded constantly that, even if the door is open, she cannot just walk in and 'borrow' a cup of sugar without asking." (Ariely par.26) stood out to me a lot. It describes very well how our society is, that we know our locks wont keep out anyone who really wants to get in, but it will keep anyone from being tempted to try. 
Citations: Ariely, Dan. "Why We Lie." The Bedford Reader 12th (2014): 440-46. Print.