The Hypocrisy Trap

How Changing What We Criticize Can Improve Our Lives

Michael Hallsworth

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Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

MIT Press
14 October 2025

Psychology

How our desire to stamp out hypocrisy is backfiring-and how learning to target our criticisms better can improve our politics, business, and personal relationships.

How our desire to stamp out hypocrisy is backfiring-and how learning to target our criticisms better can improve our politics, business, and personal relationships.

In our increasingly distrusting and polarized nations, accusations of hypocrisy are everywhere. But the strange truth is that our attempts to stamp out hypocrisy often backfire, creating what Michael Hallsworth calls The Hypocrisy Trap. In this groundbreaking book, he shows how our relentless drive to expose inconsistency between words and deeds can actually breed more hypocrisy or, worse, cynicism that corrodes democracy itself.

Through engaging stories and original research, Hallsworth shows that not all hypocrisy is equal. While some forms genuinely destroy trust and create harm, others reflect the inevitable compromises of human nature and complex societies. The Hypocrisy Trap offers practical solutions- ways to increase our own consistency, navigate accusations wisely, and change how we judge others' actions. Hallsworth shows vividly that we can improve our politics, businesses, and personal relationships if we rethink hypocrisy-soon.

By: Michael Hallsworth
Imprint: MIT Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
Weight: 567g
ISBN: 9780262050944
ISBN 10: 0262050943
Pages: 296
Publication Date: 14 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Michael Hallsworth is a leading figure in applying behavioral science to real-world challenges. For the last 20 years he has been an official and an advisor for governments around the world. The coauthor of the book Behavioral Insights, he built a 250-person consultancy business and has held positions at Princeton University, Columbia University, Imperial College London, and the University of Pennsylvania.