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Justifying Deviant Behavior: The Role of Attributions and Moral Emotions

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  • Paul Harvey

    (University of New Hampshire)

  • Mark J. Martinko

    (Florida A&M University)

  • Nancy Borkowski

    (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Abstract

We present two studies investigating the impact of causal perceptions and the moral emotions of anger, shame, and guilt on the justification of deviant workplace behavior. Study 1 tests our conceptual framework using a sample of undergraduate business students; Study 2 examines a population of practicing physicians. Results varied significantly between the two samples, suggesting that individual and contextual factors play an important role in shaping the perceptual and emotional processes by which individuals form reactions to undesirable affective workplace events. Implications of these findings for the study of ethics, emotions, and attributions, as well as for promoting ethical behavior, are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Harvey & Mark J. Martinko & Nancy Borkowski, 2017. "Justifying Deviant Behavior: The Role of Attributions and Moral Emotions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 141(4), pages 779-795, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:141:y:2017:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-016-3046-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3046-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Taya Cohen, 2010. "Moral Emotions and Unethical Bargaining: The Differential Effects of Empathy and Perspective Taking in Deterring Deceitful Negotiation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 94(4), pages 569-579, July.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Khanna, Poonam & Khan, Sarfraz A. & Krasikova, Dina & Miller, Stewart R., 2021. "Repeated engagement in misconduct by executives involved with financial restatements," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 194-203.
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    4. Lages, Cristiana R. & Perez-Vega, Rodrigo & Kadić-Maglajlić, Selma & Borghei-Razavi, Niloofar, 2023. "A systematic review and bibliometric analysis of the dark side of customer behavior: An integrative customer incivility framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

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