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Implicit Theories and Issue Characteristics as Determinants of Moral Awareness and Intentions

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Abstract

Individuals’ implicit theories that people’s character is fixed (entity theorist) versus malleable (incremental theorist) are associated with their holding beliefs that morality is primarily determined by fulfilling prescribed duties (duty-based morality) versus upholding basic rights of others (rights-based morality), respectively. Three studies provide evidence that the ability to recognize that a situation can legitimately be considered from a moral point of view (moral awareness) is interactively dependent upon the nature of perceivers’ implicit theories (and their associated schemas in the moral domain) and the extent to which the issue involves a violation that emphasizes a failure to fulfill a prescribed duty (duty-based violation) versus a failure to uphold a fundamental right of others (rights-based violation). The studies experimentally manipulated the characteristics of a hypothetical business situation to involve either a duty-based violation or a rights-based violation or no behavioral violation. In addition, Study 1 experimentally manipulated subjects’ implicit theories, while Studies 2 and 3 measured subjects’ chronically held implicit theories. Collectively, the studies provide consistent evidence that entity theorists have greater moral awareness than incremental theorists when considering situations involving duty-based violations, while incremental theorists have greater moral awareness than entity theorists when considering situations involving rights-based violations, and moral awareness is not significantly different for perceivers who are neither strongly entity nor incremental theorists, when considering situations involving duty- versus rights-based violations. Study 3 also found evidence of a moderated-mediated association between violation type and moral intentions, through moral awareness as a mediator, moderated by perceivers’ implicit theories.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33314, USA

    Kurt Wurthmann

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  1. Kurt Wurthmann
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Correspondence to Kurt Wurthmann.

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Compliance with ethical standards

This study was determined to be EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL REGULATIONS by the University Institutional Review Board. All persons gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study.

Appendices

Appendix 1

Vignette: A COMPANY CAR

Manipulation: (duty-based violation/no harm)

“A manager in your area, Terry, drives a company car. Company policy states that corporate cars are to be inspected every 3000 miles without exception. Terry routinely has her car inspected about every 5000 miles—she says that she ‘just doesn’t want to be bothered that often.’” (Reynolds 2006, p. 243)

There has never been a mechanical problem with Terry’s company car. (new text developed for the present study)

Vignette: COMPANY DRUG TESTING

Manipulation: (rights-based violation/no harm)

Your friend Janice works for a company whose management implemented a mandatory drug testing policy last year to combat the potentially serious negative effects of illegal drug use. It was recently revealed that, in addition to identifying traces of illegal drugs in employees’ bodies, the drug test also identifies traces of legal drugs that can easily be matched to particular medical conditions of employees. The employee’s union argues that management is collecting complete medical histories of all employees, and that the potential exists that this information may be used against employees during the course of their careers. However, there have been no formal complaints of adverse career actions based on employee medical conditions identified by the drug tests and the mandatory drug testing policy remains in effect. The company remains highly profitable. (new text developed for the present study)

Appendix 2

Vignette: A HEALTH PRODUCTS COMPANY (version 1)

Manipulation: (duty-based violation/no harm)

“One of your most important customers, a medical clinic, called yesterday. They had ordered a product 10 days ago (products are normally delivered within 7–10 days), but it had not arrived. Quickly, you traced the order to the shipping office. You asked the shipping clerk about the order and she said, “I shipped it two days ago!” As you left the shipping clerk’s office, you glanced at her desk and saw her shipping receipts. You could clearly see that the order had shipped this morning. You called the clinic back to let them know the product was on its way. As you talked with them you learned that the delay of the product had not affected any patients in any way.” (Reynolds 2006, p. 242)

Vignette: A HEALTH PRODUCTS COMPANY (version 2)

Manipulation: (rights-based violation/no harm)

“One of your most important customers, a medical clinic, called yesterday. They had ordered a product 10 days ago (products are normally delivered within 7–10 days), but it had not arrived. Quickly, you traced the order to the shipping office. You asked the shipping clerk about the order and she said,” (Reynolds 2006, p. 242)

“I tried to ship the order last week, but the shipping company sent a driver in his late sixties to make the pick-up and I believe senior citizens are often unreliable, so I held the order until 2 days ago when the shipping company sent a younger driver for the pick- up. The order still shipped on time.” (new text developed for the present study)

“As you left the shipping clerk’s office, you glanced at her desk and saw her shipping receipts. You could clearly see that the order had shipped 2 days ago. You called the clinic back to let them know the product was on its way. As you talked with them you learned that the delay of the product had not affected any patients in any way.” (Reynolds 2006, p. 242)

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Wurthmann, K. Implicit Theories and Issue Characteristics as Determinants of Moral Awareness and Intentions. J Bus Ethics 142, 93–116 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2714-1

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