Final answer:
Shawn is displaying a personality trait aligned with strategic behavior, which involves choosing actions that effectively reach personal goals, without necessarily considering morality. His willingness to lie for business gain contrasts with ethical practices and lacks a higher moral justification.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shawn is demonstrating high levels of a personality trait often associated with strategic behavior. This type of behavior involves choosing the most effective means to achieve a specific end, regardless of the moral implications. Shawn's approach, where any action that helps him get ahead in business is justified, even if it involves deceit, indicates a potential willingness to prioritize self-interest over ethical considerations.
In the realm of economics, Adam Smith's concept of the invisible hand suggests that self-interested behavior can lead to positive social outcomes within a market economy. However, Shawn's belief that lying is justified if it advances his business interests diverges from ethical business practices, which maintain that honesty and integrity are paramount.
Individuals might sometimes appeal to a higher authority or a greater good to justify their actions, as described by Sykes & Matza, but Shawn's actions point to a more self-serving rationale rather than a higher moral justification. This reflects a perspective where personal gain is deemed more important than the potential harm his actions might cause to customers or business partners.