IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jbuset/v197y2025i4d10.1007_s10551-024-05736-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring a paradox: Psychopathy, Morality and Organisational Citizenship Behaviour

Author

Listed:
  • Melrona Kirrane

    (Dublin City University Business School)

  • Adeela Farqan

    (Dublin City University Business School)

  • Emer Cloak

    (Dublin City University Business School)

Abstract

Studies of the association between psychopathic traits and prosocial behavior are limited, with explanatory mechanisms of such dynamics being similarly scant within the empirical literature. Using a large sample of people in leadership roles, we explore the associations between the three facets of psychopathy (TriPM, Patrick CJ (2010) Operationalizing the triarchic conceptualization of psychopathy: preliminary description of brief scales for assessment of boldness, meanness, and disinhibition. Unpublished test manual, Florida State University, pp. 1110–1131), and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB, Smith et al (1983) J Appl Psychol 68:653–663). We examine the mediating role of individualizing and binding moral foundations (MFQ, Graham et al. (2013) Adv Exp Soc Psychol 47:55–130) within these relationships. Correlation analysis revealed that boldness was positively correlated with OCB, while both meanness and disinhibition were negatively correlated with OCB. Mediation analysis demonstrated that only individualizing moral foundations (IMF) mediated the relationship between meanness and OCB, such that meanness led to lower IMF and reduced levels of OCB. Our findings signal that lower IMF enables the nefarious behavior of people with darker psychopathic traits, while moral foundations as a whole play no role in advancing the prosocial behavior of people with so-called adaptive psychopathic traits. The contributions of these findings to the literature are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Melrona Kirrane & Adeela Farqan & Emer Cloak, 2025. "Exploring a paradox: Psychopathy, Morality and Organisational Citizenship Behaviour," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 197(4), pages 873-892, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:197:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-024-05736-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-024-05736-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10551-024-05736-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10551-024-05736-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. William J. Mea & Ronald R. Sims, 2019. "Human Dignity-Centered Business Ethics: A Conceptual Framework for Business Leaders," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 160(1), pages 53-69, November.
    2. Dan Chiaburu & Gonzalo Muñoz & Richard Gardner, 2013. "How to Spot a Careerist Early On: Psychopathy and Exchange Ideology as Predictors of Careerism," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 118(3), pages 473-486, December.
    3. Andra Cătălina Roșca & Vlad Burtăverde & Cristina-Ioana Dan & Alexandru Mateizer & Carol Robert Petrancu & Adrian Ionuț Iriza & Cristina Adina Ene, 2021. "The Dark Triad Traits of Firefighters and Risk-Taking at Work. The Mediating Role of Altruism, Honesty, and Courage," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-12, June.
    4. James R. Van Scotter & Karina De Déa Roglio, 2020. "CEO Bright and Dark Personality: Effects on Ethical Misconduct," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 164(3), pages 451-475, July.
    5. Benjamin R. Walker & Chris J. Jackson, 2017. "Moral Emotions and Corporate Psychopathy: A Review," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 141(4), pages 797-810, April.
    6. Bryan Neo & Martin Sellbom & Sarah F. Smith & Scott O. Lilienfeld, 2018. "Of Boldness and Badness: Insights into Workplace Malfeasance from a Triarchic Psychopathy Model Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(1), pages 187-205, April.
    7. Tony Simons & Hannes Leroy & Veroniek Collewaert & Stijn Masschelein, 2015. "How Leader Alignment of Words and Deeds Affects Followers: A Meta-analysis of Behavioral Integrity Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(4), pages 831-844, December.
    8. Diana C. Robertson & Christian Voegtlin & Thomas Maak, 2017. "Business Ethics: The Promise of Neuroscience," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(4), pages 679-697, September.
    9. Charlice Hurst & Lauren Simon & Yongsuhk Jung & Dante Pirouz, 2019. "Are “Bad” Employees Happier Under Bad Bosses? Differing Effects of Abusive Supervision on Low and High Primary Psychopathy Employees," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(4), pages 1149-1164, September.
    10. Dallas Hill & Hannah Scott, 2019. "Climbing the corporate ladder: desired leadership skills and successful psychopaths," Journal of Financial Crime, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 26(3), pages 881-896, July.
    11. Jennifer Mencl & Douglas May, 2009. "The Effects of Proximity and Empathy on Ethical Decision-Making: An Exploratory Investigation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 85(2), pages 201-226, March.
    12. Aaron Cohen & Mohammad Abedallah, 2021. "Examining correlates of organizational citizenship behavior and counterproductive work behavior in a collectivist culture: the case of Arab teachers in Israel," Organization Management Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 18(3/4), pages 98-120, February.
    13. Fabiola H. Gerpott & Niels Van Quaquebeke & Sofia Schlamp & Sven C. Voelpel, 2019. "An Identity Perspective on Ethical Leadership to Explain Organizational Citizenship Behavior: The Interplay of Follower Moral Identity and Leader Group Prototypicality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(4), pages 1063-1078, June.
    14. Leslie Sekerka & Debra Comer & Lindsey Godwin, 2014. "Positive Organizational Ethics: Cultivating and Sustaining Moral Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 119(4), pages 435-444, February.
    15. Orlando C. Richard & O. Dorian Boncoeur & Hao Chen & David L. Ford, 2020. "Supervisor Abuse Effects on Subordinate Turnover Intentions and Subsequent Interpersonal Aggression: The Role of Power-Distance Orientation and Perceived Human Resource Support Climate," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 164(3), pages 549-563, July.
    16. Christopher M. Castille & John E. Buckner & Christian N. Thoroughgood, 2018. "Prosocial Citizens Without a Moral Compass? Examining the Relationship Between Machiavellianism and Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(4), pages 919-930, June.
    17. Michael Palanski & Alexander Newman & Hannes Leroy & Celia Moore & Sean Hannah & Deanne Den Hartog, 2021. "Quantitative Research on Leadership and Business Ethics: Examining the State of the Field and an Agenda for Future Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 109-119, January.
    18. Guy Paré & Michel Tremblay, 2000. "The Measurement and Antecedents of Turnover Intentions among IT Professionals," CIRANO Working Papers 2000s-33, CIRANO.
    19. Anna Sutton & Maree Roche & Madeleine Stapleton & Anja Roemer, 2020. "Can Psychopathy Be Adaptive at Work? Development and Application of a Work Focused Self- and Other-Report Measure of the Triarchic Psychopathy Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-17, June.
    20. Sean Valentine & Gary Fleischman & Lynn Godkin, 2018. "Villains, Victims, and Verisimilitudes: An Exploratory Study of Unethical Corporate Values, Bullying Experiences, Psychopathy, and Selling Professionals’ Ethical Reasoning," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(1), pages 135-154, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Florian Fuchs & Volker Lingnau, 2024. "The Homo Economicus as a Prototype of a Psychopath? A Conceptual Analysis and Implications for Business Research and Teaching," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 195(4), pages 763-777, December.
    2. Mushtaq Ahmed & Muhammad Ishfaq Khan, 2024. "Unpacking the paradoxical impact of ethical leadership on employees’ pro-social rule-breaking behavior: The interplay of employees’ psychological capital and moral identity," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(8), pages 1-25, August.
    3. Na Yang & Congcong Lin & Zhenyu Liao & Mei Xue, 2022. "When Moral Tension Begets Cognitive Dissonance: An Investigation of Responses to Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior and the Contingent Effect of Construal Level," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(1), pages 339-353, September.
    4. Paramita, Widya & Zulfa, Naila & Rostiani, Rokhima & Widyaningsih, Yulia A. & Sholihin, Mahfud, 2021. "Ethics support through rapport: Elaborating the impact of service provider rapport on ethical behaviour intention of the tourists," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    5. Anna Sutton & Maree Roche & Madeleine Stapleton & Anja Roemer, 2020. "Can Psychopathy Be Adaptive at Work? Development and Application of a Work Focused Self- and Other-Report Measure of the Triarchic Psychopathy Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-17, June.
    6. Matej Drašček & Adriana Rejc Buhovac & Dana Mesner Andolšek, 2021. "Moral Pragmatism as a Bridge Between Duty, Utility, and Virtue in Managers’ Ethical Decision-Making," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 172(4), pages 803-819, September.
    7. L. Maxim Laurijssen & Barbara Wisse & Stacey Sanders & Ed Sleebos, 2024. "How to Neutralize Primary Psychopathic Leaders’ Damaging Impact: Rules, Sanctions, and Transparency," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(2), pages 365-383, January.
    8. Clive R. Boddy & Louise Boulter, 2025. "HRM’s Response to Workplace Bullying: Complacent, Complicit and Compounding," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 197(3), pages 541-555, March.
    9. Elizabeth Sheedy & Patrick Garcia & Denise Jepsen, 2021. "The Role of Risk Climate and Ethical Self-interest Climate in Predicting Unethical Pro-organisational Behaviour," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 173(2), pages 281-300, October.
    10. Kenneth de Roeck & Nicolas Raineri & David Jones & Sabrina Scheidler, 2024. "Giving the benefit of the doubt: Investigating the insurance-like effect of CSR in mitigating negative employee reactions to psychological contract breach," Post-Print hal-04238140, HAL.
    11. Mariela E Jaffé & Rainer Greifeneder & Marc-André Reinhard, 2019. "Manipulating the odds: The effects of Machiavellianism and construal level on cheating behavior," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(11), pages 1-22, November.
    12. Kristian Alm & David S. A. Guttormsen, 2023. "Enabling the Voices of Marginalized Groups of People in Theoretical Business Ethics Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(2), pages 303-320, January.
    13. Benjamin R. Walker & Chris J. Jackson, 2017. "Moral Emotions and Corporate Psychopathy: A Review," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 141(4), pages 797-810, April.
    14. Charlice Hurst & Lauren Simon & Yongsuhk Jung & Dante Pirouz, 2019. "Are “Bad” Employees Happier Under Bad Bosses? Differing Effects of Abusive Supervision on Low and High Primary Psychopathy Employees," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(4), pages 1149-1164, September.
    15. Kennedy, Jessica A. & Schweitzer, Maurice E., 2018. "Building trust by tearing others down: When accusing others of unethical behavior engenders trust," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 111-128.
    16. Ioanna Giannoukou, 2023. "Personality Traits and Charismatic Leader: An Innovative Perspective on Leadership," Technium Business and Management, Technium Science, vol. 6(1), pages 105-125.
    17. Walker, Benjamin R. & Jackson, Chris J. & Sovereign, Genevieve, 2020. "Disinhibition predicts both psychopathy and entrepreneurial intentions," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 14(C).
    18. Anke Arnaud & Marshall Schminke, 2012. "The Ethical Climate and Context of Organizations: A Comprehensive Model," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(6), pages 1767-1780, December.
    19. Gerald Eisenkopf & Torben Kölpin, 2024. "Leading-by-example: a meta-analysis," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 94(4), pages 543-577, May.
    20. Yuka Fujimoto & Jasim Uddin, 2022. "Inclusive Leadership for Reduced Inequality: Economic–Social–Economic Cycle of Inclusion," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(3), pages 563-582, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:197:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-024-05736-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.