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Media Depictions of CEO Ethics and Stakeholder Support of CSR Initiatives: The Mediating Roles of CSR Motive Attributions and Cynicism

Author

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  • Babatunde Ogunfowora

    (University of Calgary)

  • Madelynn Stackhouse

    (University of Calgary)

  • Won-Yong Oh

    (University of Calgary)

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) functions as a positive signal to stakeholders that a firm is a responsible corporate citizen. However, CSR is increasingly becoming an ambiguous signal of organizational goodwill because many companies engage in CSR purely out of self-interest, rather than genuine altruism. In this paper, we integrate attribution theory with signaling theory to explore how stakeholders react when they receive additional signals that contradict the company’s intended positive CSR signal. Specifically, we argue that morally questionable CEO ethics in the media negatively influences stakeholders’ CSR motive attributions, which in turn results in increased cynicism that ultimately impacts CSR support intentions and behaviors. We find support for our hypotheses in a quasi-experimental study of stakeholder media exposure to different types of CEOs (morally questionable, ethical, and ethics-unknown). Our findings demonstrate that stakeholders consider CEO ethics an important signal of CSR motives, and will shun the CSR initiatives of morally questionable CEOs.

Suggested Citation

  • Babatunde Ogunfowora & Madelynn Stackhouse & Won-Yong Oh, 2018. "Media Depictions of CEO Ethics and Stakeholder Support of CSR Initiatives: The Mediating Roles of CSR Motive Attributions and Cynicism," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(2), pages 525-540, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:150:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-016-3173-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3173-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. Xin Liu, 2020. "Impression management against early dismissal? CEO succession and corporate social responsibility," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 999-1016, March.
    10. Ye Chen & Naiding Yang, 2023. "Investor Responses to Corporate Donation Frequency Strategies: The Mediating Roles of Bidirectional Motive Attributions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-19, October.
    11. Zimmer, Lukas & Swoboda, Bernhard, 2023. "Perceived corporate social responsibility effects across nations – The role of national institutions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(3).
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    14. Andrzej Janowski, 2020. "Philanthropy and the Contribution of Andrew Carnegie to Corporate Social Responsibility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-26, December.
    15. Alwyn Lim & Shawn Pope, 2022. "What drives companies to do good? A “universal” ordering of corporate social responsibility motivations," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(1), pages 233-255, January.
    16. Athanasios Krystallis & Vlad Zaharia & Antonis Zairis, 2021. "“When” Does It Pay to Be Good? Attributions Mediate the Way CSR Elements Impact on Consumer Responses, and Are Controllable," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, May.
    17. Daehyeon Park & Jinhyeong Jo & Doojin Ryu, 2021. "Incentive Contracts for Sustainable Growth of Small or Medium-Sized Enterprise," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-10, April.

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