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Delegation to Artificial Intelligence can increase dishonest behavior

While there is a promise of great productivity gains, a new study published in Nature highlights the risk of unethical behavior from delegating decisions to AI. An international research team, including scientists from our Research Centers ARC and CHM, warns that people request dishonest behavior from AI systems, and that AI systems are prone to comply.
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About our Institute

Get to know us – our Research Center and Groups, our service structure, and what drives us in our scientific work.
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Join our research – become part of our studies

The Max Planck Institute for Human Development is always looking for adults and children of all ages, who would like to take part in studies.
Democracy in the playoffs

Democracy in the playoffs

Established democracies are coming under increasing pressure—and eroding. Slowly at first, unnoticed, and then suddenly at breakneck speed. Ralph Hertwig at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development is researching which effects are particularly fatal and how society can counter this development. (German Article)
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Our Institute in the media

Here you can find links to selected articles, radio- and TV reports about the activities of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in 2025.


Newsroom
A gray robot sits at a desk and checks documents. In the background, a scale floats, symbolizing justice.

Automatically disadvantaged? What benefit recipients think about the use of AI in welfare decisions 

September 29, 2025

Artificial Intelligence CHM Press Release
Surveys in the US and the UK on attitudes toward automated decision-making processes in the allocation of social benefits 
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The picture shows Shahar Hechtlinger (female) in profile in front of a concrete wall. She has long brown hair and is wearing a blue top. She is smiling slightly at the camera.

Shahar Hechtlinger was awarded the de Finetti Award of the European Association for Decision Making 

September 24, 2025

ARC Awards
The EADM recognizes outstanding research in the field of decision making 
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A hand controls a robot like a marionette in front of a coloured background.

Delegation to Artificial Intelligence can increase dishonest behavior

September 17, 2025

ARC Artificial Intelligence CHM Press Release
International research team warns that people request dishonest behavior from AI systems, and that AI systems are prone to comply 
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Pencil-like drawing of portraits of Nils Köbis (left) and Zoe Rahwan (right).

Tempted to cheat? How delegating to AI shifts our moral boundaries

September 17, 2025

ARC Artificial Intelligence CHM Press Release
Zoe Rahwan and Nils Köbis in conversation about their research
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Large thermometer shows over 40 degrees Celsius, blurred city street in the background.

New Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Climate Change and Mental Health

September 12, 2025

CEN Health News
MPIB Director Simone Kühn is on the steering committee 
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The picture shows a portrait of Laurel Raffington (female). She has her brown hair in a plait and is wearing a dark blue denim shirt. A dark green wall with pictures can be seen in the background.

Laurel Raffington receives the BGA Early Career Award 2025 

September 04, 2025

Awards Biosocial
The Early Career Award from the Behavior Genetics Association acknowledges outstanding early career contributions to the field  
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Latest Publications
Journal Article
deSteiguer, A. J., Smith, T., Goode, J. A., Willems, Y. E., Schowe, A. M., Czamara, D., Mönkediek, B., Pahnke, C. K. L., Forstner, A. J., Binder, E. B., Schneper, L., Notterman, D. A., Tucker-Drob, E. M., Raffington, L., Mitchell, C., & Harden, K. P. (2025). Salivary DNA methylation and pubertal development in adolescents. Scientific Reports, 15, Article 35970. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-19588-1
MPG.PuRe
DOI
publisher-version
Journal Article
Pohlmann, K., Tawil, N., Brick, T. R., Yaghoubi, E., & Kühn, S. (2025). Visualising and understanding human evaluation of house facades: GAN applied to environmental psychology. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 107, Article 102803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102803
MPG.PuRe
DOI
publisher-version
Journal Article
Pohlmann, K., Lichtlein, N., Mostajeran, F., Tawil, N., & Kühn, S. (2025). Interactive room design as a tool for understanding form and style preferences. Scientific Reports, 15, Article 35578. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-23543-5
MPG.PuRe
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Latest Events

Ausstellung von Francesco Mancori | Radical Dualism

Oct 10, 2025 06:00 PM (Local Time Germany) - Dec 10, 2025 06:00 PM
Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Room: Foyer

Meike Bartels, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Nov 4, 2025 11:00 AM (Local Time Germany)
Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Room: Großer Sitzungssaal

Jenny van Dongen, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Nov 4, 2025 01:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Room: Großer Sitzungssaal

Paul-B.-Baltes Lecture

Matthias Kliegel, Université de Genève
Nov 11, 2025 06:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften (BBAW) Leibniz-Saal Markgrafenstraße 38, 10117 Berlin
Further Publications


Further Events



Current Research Results


Cover of the book "Krebs fühlen. Eine Emotionsgeschichte des 20. Jahrhunderts"
Cover of the book "Die Politik der Demütigung"
Cover of the book "feeling real"
Cover of the book "Mächtige Gefühle"
Cover of the book "Deliberate Ignorance"
Cover of the book "Classification in the wild"
Cover of the book " The long-term proficiency of early, middle, and late starters learning English als a foreign language at school: A narrative review and empirical stud"
Cover of the book "Anders fühlen"
Cover of the book "Sex - richtig"
Cover of the book "Klick. Wie wir in einer digitalen Welt die Kontrolle behalten und die richtigen Entscheidungen treffen"
Cover of the book "Lost dynamics and the dynamics of loss"
Cover of the book "Fluid Feelings"
Cover of the book "Zur Zukunft der Demokratie"
Cover of the book "Feeling Political"
Cover of the book "Grüne Fahren SUV und Joggen macht unsterblich"
Cover of the book "Jahrbuch Deutsche Einheit 2022"
It shows the Book Cover The Body Unburdened written by Esra Sarioglu. The upper third displays the book title and name, in the lower two thirds is a photo of a woman standing in the midst of police officers and the proud look is led away.
In the center of the picture, an observatory on wheels can be seen, with people standing around it marveling. At the lower left edge, a speaker stands at the lectern and points into the sky.
The title of the book is in the middle in a white box. Outside are many different adjectives in colorful letters.
The title of the book is Does prefrontal connectivity during task switching help or hinder children’s performance
Cover of the Book The integrity of dopaminergic and noradrenergic brain regions is associated with different aspects of late-life memory performance
Cover of the book "The Intelligence of Intuition"
Cover of the book
Cover of the book "Elgar Companion to Herbert Simon"
The cover of Smart Management by Gerd Gigerenzer, Jochen Reb, and Shenghua Luan features a simple and modern design. The title is prominently displayed, highlighting the key theme of the book: "How Simple Heuristics Help Leaders Make Good Decisions in an Uncertain World." The overall aesthetic reflects a professional tone, suitable for a leadership and management guide, with clean lines and minimalistic colors that emphasize clarity and strategic thinking, in line with the book's focus on simplifying decision-making in complex environments.
Cover of the book "Insurgent Fandom"
Cover of the book "Geschichte und Gesellschaft. Zeitschrift für Historische Sozialwissenschaften"
The picture is predominantly in red. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan can be seen in side profile. A dark column runs through the center of the picture. The title of the book is in the center. A person looking up and bright lights can be seen in the background.
Cover of the book "Environmental Neuroscience"
The image shows the dummy from the cover From Animal Models to Human Individuality: Integrative Approaches to the Study of Brain Plasticity
Cover of the book "Verfassungsgefühle. Die Deutschen und ihre Staatsgrundgesetze"
Cover Anti-Autocracy-Handbook
Cover of the bookPropaganda und Desinformation (Propaganda and Disinformation) in Politics and Contemporary History

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Current Job Openings

Current Job Openings

We are looking for qualified and motivated professionals to join our Research Center and Services. Here you can find all open positions along with details about responsibilities and requirements.



 
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View from above of a table with laptops on it and people holding their hands over each other

Equal Opportunities

The Max Planck Institute for Human Development is committed to promoting equal opportunities for all genders. We take both organizational and personnel measures to facilitate the reconciliation of work and family life and to promote women’s careers. Our aim is to ensure a positive environment that promotes and supports excellence.
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Research Schools

The Max Planck Institute for Human Development provides many opportunities for predocs. Among others, the two International Max Planck Research Schools at the Institute as well as the Max Planck School of Cognition provide an excellent training context.

 
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