Moral Differentiation: Exploring Boundaries of the “Monkey See, Monkey Do” Perspective
Journal of Business Ethics 102 (3):379-399 (2011)
| Abstract | Research in ethical decision making has consistently demonstrated a positive relationship between others’ unethical behavior and observers’ unethical behavior, providing support for the “Monkey See, Monkey Do” perspective (e.g., Robinson and O’Leary-Kelly, Acad Manage J 41:658–672, 1998 ). However, the boundaries of this relationship have received little research attention. Guided by theory and research in interpersonal distancing, we explore these boundaries by proposing and examining “moral differentiation,” the set of individual and situational characteristics that affect the degree to which one is willing to be influenced by others’ unethical behavior. Using data from 655 undergraduate business students in two U.S. universities, we test moderating hypotheses regarding the influence of moral differentiation characteristics on the relationship between others’ unethical behavior and observers’ unethical behavior. Results suggest that strong moral identity, low need for affiliation, and extraversion weaken the relationship between others’ unethical behavior and observers’ unethical behavior. Implications for managers and future research are discussed | |||||||||
| Keywords | No keywords specified (fix it) | |||||||||
| Categories | ||||||||||
| Options |
|
|||||||||
Download options| PhilPapers Archive |
Upload a copy of this paper Check publisher's policy on self-archival Papers currently archived: 5,711 |
| External links |
 |
| Through your library | Configure |
Similar books and articlesMichael J. O.’Fallon & Kenneth D. Butterfield (2012). The Influence of Unethical Peer Behavior on Observers' Unethical Behavior: A Social Cognitive Perspective. Journal of Business Ethics 109 (2):117-131.
Robert A. Giacalone & Mark D. Promislo (2010). Unethical and Unwell: Decrements in Well-Being and Unethical Activity at Work. Journal of Business Ethics 91 (2):275 - 297.
Marshall Schminke (1991). Ethics in Declining Organizations. Business Ethics Quarterly 1 (3):235-248.
Zhiqiang Liu, Fue Zeng & Chenting Su (2009). Does Relationship Quality Matter in Consumer Ethical Decision Making? Evidence From China. Journal of Business Ethics 88:483 - 496.
Jeroen Stouten, Sandra Gilissen, Jeroen Camps & Chloé Tuteleers (2011). Music is What Feelings Sound Like: The Role of Tonal and Atonal Music in Unethical Behavior. Ethics and Behavior 22 (3):189 - 195.
Adam Barsky (2011). Investigating the Effects of Moral Disengagement and Participation on Unethical Work Behavior. Journal of Business Ethics 104 (1):59-75.
Patrick Van Kenhove, Kristof de Wulf & Sarah Steenhaut (2003). The Relationship Between Consumers' Unethical Behavior and Customer Loyalty in a Retail Environment. Journal of Business Ethics 44 (4):261 - 278.
Yuh-Jia Chen & Thomas Li-Ping Tang (2006). Attitude Toward and Propensity to Engage in Unethical Behavior: Measurement Invariance Across Major Among University Students. Journal of Business Ethics 69 (1):77 - 93.
James B. Coninck (1992). How Sales Managers Control Unethical Sales Force Behavior. Journal of Business Ethics 11 (10):789-798.
James B. DeConinck (1992). How Sales Managers Control Unethical Sales Force Behavior. Journal of Business Ethics 11 (10):789 - 798.
Irina Cojuharenco, Garriy Shteynberg, Michele Gelfand & Marshall Schminke (2012). Self-Construal and Unethical Behavior. Journal of Business Ethics 109 (4):447-461.
Thomas Li-Ping Tang & Hsi Liu (2012). Love of Money and Unethical Behavior Intention: Does an Authentic Supervisor's Personal Integrity and Character (ASPIRE) Make a Difference? Journal of Business Ethics 107 (3):295-312.
D. K. Peterson (2002). The Relationship Between Unethical Behavior and the Dimensions of the Ethical Climate Questionnaire. Journal of Business Ethics 41 (4):313 - 326.
Suzanne C. Wagner & G. Lawrence Sanders (2001). Considerations in Ethical Decision-Making and Software Piracy. Journal of Business Ethics 29 (1-2):161 - 167.
James C. Wimbush & Jon M. Shepard (1994). Toward an Understanding of Ethical Climate: Its Relationship to Ethical Behavior and Supervisory Influence. Journal of Business Ethics 13 (8):637 - 647.
Analytics
Monthly downloads |
Added to index2011-08-18Total downloads3 ( #202,107 of 551,007 )Recent downloads (6 months)1 ( #63,425 of 551,007 )How can I increase my downloads? |
My notes
Discussion
