Dispositional predictors of moral disengagement and unethical behavior
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2025-12-11
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Aggarwal, Ishani
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Although society and organizations condemn unethical behavior, they still persist. Drawing on cognitive appraisal theory and prospect theory, this thesis identifies individual difference antecedents and mechanisms of unethical behavior – actions that violate established social norms with intention to benefit one's organization or oneself. With data from 810 participants across three studies, including behavioral negotiation scenarios, we examine how distinct individual tendencies relate to unethical conduct. We also show how moral disengagement – the psychological process through which individuals decouple moral self-concept from transgressive actions – is as a mechanism through which these tendencies influence unethical behavior across the studies. Results consistently demonstrated that guilt proneness negatively predicted both unethical pro-organizational behavior and bribery through reduced moral disengagement. Shame proneness similarly protected against unethical behavior via this mechanism. Conversely, dark core – the tendency to maximize one's utility regardless of harm to others – positively predicted unethical conduct through elevated moral disengagement. Zero-sum thinking showed inconsistent relationship with unethical behavior and, while paradoxical mindset demonstrated no relationship. Implications for organizational ethics training, selection practices, and future research are discussed.