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A special emphasis and look at the emotional side of ethical decision-making

Author

Listed:
  • Scott J. Vitell

    (School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi)

  • Robert Allen King

    (School of Business Administration, University of Mississippi)

  • Jatinder Jit Singh

    (ESADE-Universitat Ramon LLull)

Abstract

An overwhelming preponderance of the literature in marketing and consumer ethics assumes that decision makers follow cognitive, rational processes. While this is certainly a logical and valid approach to this topic, it tends to overlook an important aspect of ethical decision making, namely the decision maker’s emotions or emotional state. Recently some scholars have begun to examine this “other side” of ethical decision making. Thus the current paper examines the literature regarding the role of emotions in ethical decision making, providing both an examination and synthesis of this literature. The paper culminates in both a theoretical model as well as testable research propositions.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott J. Vitell & Robert Allen King & Jatinder Jit Singh, 2013. "A special emphasis and look at the emotional side of ethical decision-making," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 3(2), pages 74-85, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:amsrev:v:3:y:2013:i:2:d:10.1007_s13162-013-0042-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s13162-013-0042-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jatinder J. Singh & Nitika Garg & Rahul Govind & Scott J. Vitell, 2018. "Anger Strays, Fear Refrains: The Differential Effect of Negative Emotions on Consumers’ Ethical Judgments," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(1), pages 235-248, August.
    2. Septianto, Felix & Tjiptono, Fandy & Kusumasondjaja, Sony, 2020. "Anger punishes, compassion forgives: How discrete emotions mitigate double standards in consumer ethical judgment," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    3. Lumina Albert & Scott Reynolds & Bulent Turan, 2015. "Turning Inward or Focusing Out? Navigating Theories of Interpersonal and Ethical Cognitions to Understand Ethical Decision-Making," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(2), pages 467-484, August.
    4. O. C. Ferrell & Victoria L. Crittenden & Linda Ferrell & William F. Crittenden, 2013. "Theoretical development in ethical marketing decision making," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 3(2), pages 51-60, June.
    5. Zeinab Rezvani & Johan Jansson & Maria Bengtsson, 2018. "Consumer motivations for sustainable consumption: The interaction of gain, normative and hedonic motivations on electric vehicle adoption," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1272-1283, December.
    6. Lamberto Zollo, 2021. "The Consumers’ Emotional Dog Learns to Persuade Its Rational Tail: Toward a Social Intuitionist Framework of Ethical Consumption," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(2), pages 295-313, January.
    7. Rafi M. M. I. Chowdhury, 2017. "Emotional Intelligence and Consumer Ethics: The Mediating Role of Personal Moral Philosophies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(3), pages 527-548, May.

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