Crime, it seems, is a family affair.

People are willing to vary their sense of right and wrong when it comes to their own family — even if it means breaking the law!

A study from the University of Michigan found that when a member of the family behaves abhorrently, their nearest and dearest are often inclined to protect them. This familial protection is prevalent for any moral infraction, but becomes more intense when a person is guilty of a severe events, such as theft, blackmail and groping.

In the paper, published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, the study authors said that they were surprised people become more protective of a loved one as the severity of the crime increases. This quirk of human nature was seen, regardless of gender, political orientation, morals or personal disgust by the offence.

Aaron Weidman, psychology research fellow and the study’s co-lead author said, ’We were really taken aback to see that most people predict that they will protect those close to them even in the face of heinous moral infractions’.

The study collated answers from more than 2,800 people in ten separate studies when asked how they would react when someone close to them commits theft or sexual harassment. Participants were quizzed about how they would react if asked by a police officer if they knew any information about an immoral act they had witnessed. The study uncovered that people would hide the truth and even lie — a criminal offence in itself — to protect their family.

However, the same standards were not upheld for strangers, with participants wanting the perpetrator to be punished and saying they would consider informing the authorities and even excommunicating them socially.

Most people justified their decision by claiming to discipline the wrongdoing themselves. By doing this, people maintain their self-image as a morally upstanding individual as well as preserving the close relationship.

‘Loyalty is a powerful motivator that, under certain circumstances, can override other virtues like honesty,’ said Walter Sowden, the study’s other lead author, and former University of Michigan psychology doctoral student who is now an army research psychologist.