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A Visualized Review of Research on Unethical Behavior in Organizations

Author

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  • Yiwei Yuan
  • Li Zhu
  • Qiao Li
  • Jun Liu
  • Chao Liu
  • Chunhua Chen

Abstract

Although considerable efforts have been made to summarize the behavioral ethics literature, a quantitative visualization is necessary to generate an overall understanding of research on unethical behavior in organizations. Using CiteSpace, this study conducts a bibliometric review and visualizes the intellectual base of the unethical workplace behavior field. Based on a dataset of 8765 unethical‐behavior‐related publications collected from the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) database from 1993 to 2023, we identify landmark studies, analyze key research themes, visualize the network of major theories, and track the evolution of research on unethical behavior in organizations via co‐citation and co‐occurrence analysis. After tracking the developmental trajectory and outlining the current state of the art, we identify potential trends in research on unethical workplace behavior and suggest some important research directions. Our bibliometric review generates a clear visualization of unethical behavior in organizations, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of this body of literature. These findings also offer valuable insights for managers seeking to address unethical behavior in their organizations and highlight implications for policymakers aiming to promote ethical workplace environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Yiwei Yuan & Li Zhu & Qiao Li & Jun Liu & Chao Liu & Chunhua Chen, 2026. "A Visualized Review of Research on Unethical Behavior in Organizations," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(1), pages 48-74, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:buseth:v:35:y:2026:i:1:p:48-74
    DOI: 10.1111/beer.12778
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