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Individual Scapetribing and Responsibility Ascriptions

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Abstract

Individual scapetribing is identified as pointing the finger of blame at organizations (or groups, institutions, and systems) as a means of excusing or inaccurately ascribing responsibility for one's own actions and their consequences. This type of behavior is shown to be related to corporate scape-goating as described by Wilson (1993). The paper addresses responsibility ascriptions and the importance of corporate responsibility as a significantly influential multi-person system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83843, U.S.A

    Jeffrey J. Bailey

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  1. Jeffrey J. Bailey
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Bailey, J.J. Individual Scapetribing and Responsibility Ascriptions. Journal of Business Ethics 16, 47–53 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017911314189

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017911314189

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