But clearly, the lesson is that incentives can be a dangerous weapon. A critic of this research might say that the problem is not incentives, but dumb incentives. No doubt, some incentives are dumber than others. But no incentives can ever be smart enough to substitute for people who do the right thing because it's the right thing.
The quote highlights the potential risks associated with incentives in influencing people's behavior and decision-making. While some might argue that the issue lies with poorly designed incentives, the underlying message suggests that incentives alone cannot replace the intrinsic motivation of individuals who act ethically and responsibly. Instead, the focus should be on cultivating a culture where doing the right thing is valued above simply acting for rewards.
Incentives, regardless of their design, cannot ensure that people will consistently make moral choices. The idea is that meaningful and ethical actions should ideally stem from a sense of duty and integrity, rather than just financial or material rewards. Schwartz’s perspective emphasizes the importance of fostering an environment that encourages principled behavior as a foundational aspect of work, rather than relying solely on external motivators.
