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To Erect Temples to Virtue: Effects of State Mindfulness on Other-Focused Ethical Behaviors

Author

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  • Davide C. Orazi

    (Monash Business School)

  • Jiemiao Chen

    (Monash Business School)

  • Eugene Y. Chan

    (Monash Business School)

Abstract

While prior research suggests a link between mindfulness and ethical decision-making, most of the evidence for this link is correlational and refers to self-focused ethical behaviors. The paucity of experimental evidence, coupled with a lack of clarity on what mechanisms underlie the effect, limits our understanding of whether and how mindfulness might foster other-focused ethical behaviors. In this research, we hypothesize that state mindfulness might promote other-focused ethical behaviors by increasing resourcefulness, which we define as a perceived state of resource abundance. Across four experimental studies, we report causal evidence for the effects of state mindfulness instantiated through brief mindful meditation exercises on other-focused ethical behaviors, including choice of fair-trade products (Study 1A), charitable giving (Study 1B), and volunteering (Study 1C and Study 2). Resourcefulness mediates the effects of mindfulness on other-focused ethical behaviors (Study 2). Our work answers the call for more experimental research on mindfulness and its important implications for ethical decision-making.

Suggested Citation

  • Davide C. Orazi & Jiemiao Chen & Eugene Y. Chan, 2021. "To Erect Temples to Virtue: Effects of State Mindfulness on Other-Focused Ethical Behaviors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(4), pages 785-798, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:169:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-019-04296-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-019-04296-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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