Antecedents to the Justification of Norm Violating Behavior Among Business Practitioners

Scott J. Vitell; Megan Keith; Manisha Mathur

doi:10.1007/s10551-010-0717-5

Antecedents to the Justification of Norm Violating Behavior Among Business Practitioners

Scott J. Vitell, Megan Keith, Manisha Mathur

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study investigates the role that moral identity, religiosity, and the institutionalization of ethics play in determining the extent of justification of norm violating behavior among business practitioners. Moral justification is where a person, rather than assuming responsibility for an outcome, attempts to legitimize ethically questionable behavior. Results of the study indicate that both the internalization and symbolization dimensions of moral identity as well as intrinsic religiosity and the explicit institutionalization of ethics within the organization are significant determinants of the moral justification of unethical behaviors.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	163-173
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Business Ethics
Volume	101
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0717-5
Publication status	Published - Jun 1 2011
Externally published	Yes

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Keywords

institutionalization of business ethics
moral identity
moral justification
norm violating behavior
religiosity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Business and International Management
Business, Management and Accounting(all)
Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Economics and Econometrics
Law

Cite this

Vitell, S. J., Keith, M., & Mathur, M. (2011). Antecedents to the Justification of Norm Violating Behavior Among Business Practitioners. Journal of Business Ethics, 101(1), 163-173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0717-5

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10.1007/s10551-010-0717-5