Deborah M. Powell

Job applicants may fake in interviews for numerous reasons. One of these reasons could be that applicants may see greater opportunity and motivation to fake when interviewers have lower job-relevant expertise, as there is a lower risk of having their faking detected. We conducted two experiments to test this proposition by manipulating the job expertise of interviewers. Using reinforcement sensitivity theory, we also examined risk-related traits as antecedents of opportunity and motivation to fake. Study One, a vignette experiment, and Study Two, an experiment that used mock interviews, suggested that interviewer job expertise did not affect opportunity and motivation to fake. Across both studies, a few risk-related traits were related to these outcomes.