Does Emphasising Moral Values Decrease Dishonest Answers in Symptom Validity Tests?

Background: Persons justify dishonest behaviour in order to protect their self-perception. The justification has to be so convincing that basic moral values become secondary. The higher number of positive symptom validity tests in assessment situations indicates that the subjective assumption of being unable to engage in employment overrides the moral obligation to provide authentic symptom accounts. Question: Does emphasising moral values, social justice and honesty at the beginning of a socio-medical assessment decrease dishonest answers in symptom validity tests? Method: 93 applicants for reduced earnings pensions were randomly assigned to a test and a control group, which both used the SIMS and BEVA for symptom validation, but either activated moral values beforehand or not. Results: The activation of moral values affected the BEVA but not the SIMS. Conclusion: The activation of moral values supports authentic assessment behaviour. The effect possibly depends on the degree of individual awareness about the deceptive behaviour.