A lot of research done by psychologists has identified the primary reason why people indulge in unethical behavior is their getting caught in what are known as psychological traps.

Psychology has a large role in to play in our lives and controls what is considered right and wrong; this in turn influences the actions that are taken by people and how they judge what has been done by them as well as by others.

A few examples of psychological traps that people encounter stem from the fact that we are all brought up in an environment that demands obedience to authority. This makes it very difficult for most to refuse to follow the instructions of their superiors though they may be aware of the fact that what is being asked of them is not ethical. Another reason identified by researchers is that most people cannot live in a state of uncertainty; they require an immediate answer to everything and would accept it irrespective of it being right or wrong as long as it can provide a way out of a state of ambiguity. A third reason why people follow unethical behavior is to do with their belief that everyone does unethical things in life. The justification for any wrong action is then "someone would have done it anyway if it hadn't been me."

Unethical behavior can be avoided by using the services of a psychologist who can identify the psychological profile of people and help them avoid falling into any traps.