In the article From Inconsistency to Hypocrisy:
When Does "Saying One Thing But Doing Another" Invite Condemnation? Daniel A. Effron discusses hypocrisy and the effect it has on society. The article is found on a website called Science Direct and was published in volume 38 of the journal called Research in Organizational Behavior, which is a journal dedicated to studying individuals, groups, organizations, and their environments. Throughout the article, Effron discusses hypocrisy through topics like motivation, chronic vigilance, and culture. Within these topics he discusses the relationship between virtue and hypocrisy, outcasts, and the effect of hypocrisy on a community.

Virtue and Hypocrisy:
If a person has a good reputation within a community, they are less likely to be called out for hypocrisy. Effron puts it this way, “A virtuous internal character earns the right to the moral benefits such as being perceived as virtuous by others” (Effron 32). If a person lives their life in this manner, they are a hypocrite. By preaching one thing and practicing another in secret, the person is lying and if the hypocrisy comes out, there will be confusion and division.

This is similar to “The Scarlet Letter” because Dimmesdale is a secret sinner and but the people think of him as a “saint on earth” (Hawthorne 132).

Outcasts:
Another negative effect of hypocrisy is that it creates outcasts. Hypocrisy often causes people to think negatively about others and makes outcasts out of these people. Effron even notes that “People may also be more likely to perceive [hypocrisy] when they are habitually on the lookout for it” (Effron 22). By saying this, Effron explains that once someone is an outcast, people will never forget what they have done and will always notice the negative things about that person, keeping them isolated from society.

Similarly, in “The Scarlet Letter” Hester is an outcast and no matter what she does, is constantly looked down on by the people.

Effect of Hypocrisy on a Community:
When hypocrisy is present in a community, suspicion and mistrust will eventually be present as well. When a person fails to practice what they preach, “distrust can spiral into a larger organizational problem” (Effron 6). Effron says this knowing that when a hypocrisy in a community is uncovered, it can break the community apart and cause issues for everyone in it. It could lead to a larger societal problem and end up breaking communities apart for a time.

Some of this happens in “The Scarlet Letter,” when Dimmesdale makes his confession and the community is divided between what really happened that day.

Conclusion:
Hypocrisy is extremely damaging to society. It causes disagreements and forces people to become outcasts and feel alone. Some people even use their social status to hide their wrongdoings and cover up their hypocrisy. People and even entire communities end up getting hurt and and divided. Hypocrisy is, and always will be, a major problem in society.