My research examines how people make judgments and decisions about ethics and morality, focusing on two main areas.

• My first research stream examines lay theories of honesty: What makes communication seem honest or dishonest to everyday people? Why do factually incorrect statements sometimes seem acceptable or justified?

• My second research stream explores moral norms: How do people calibrate how 'good' they should be? What shapes these moral standards, and why does exceptional ethical behavior often go unrecognized?

Using experiments with varied, real-world samples, I investigate these basic questions of moral psychology and examine their practical implications for management, entrepreneurship, and technology.

My work has been published in leading psychology and management journals including the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, and Organization Science, and featured in practitioner outlets including the Financial Times and Harvard Business Review. I earned my Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from London Business School, and B.Sc. in Psychology and M.Sc. in Management from Queen's University, Canada.

Interested in collaborating? I welcome research assistants from across Yale's departments and programs. Please reach out at ba.helgason@yale.edu to discuss opportunities.