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 | |
| State | 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
Antecedents to the Justification of Norm Violating Behavior Among Business Practitioners. / Vitell, Scott J.; Keith, Megan; Mathur, Manisha.
In: Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 101, No. 1, 01.06.2011, p. 163-173.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Antecedents to the Justification of Norm Violating Behavior Among Business Practitioners
AU - Vitell, Scott J.
AU - Keith, Megan
AU - Mathur, Manisha
PY - 2011/6/1
Y1 - 2011/6/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - institutionalization of business ethics
KW - moral identity
KW - moral justification
KW - norm violating behavior
KW - religiosity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79959610092&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79959610092&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10551-010-0717-5
DO - 10.1007/s10551-010-0717-5
M3 - Article
VL - 101
SP - 163
EP - 173
JO - Journal of Business Ethics
JF - Journal of Business Ethics
SN - 0167-4544
IS - 1
ER -