The Slippery Slope: How Small Ethical Transgressions Pave the Way for Larger Future Transgressions

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Welsh, David T.; Ordonez, Lisa D.; Snyder, Deirdre G.; Christian, Michael S.
• 署名单位: University of Washington; University of Washington Seattle; University of Arizona; University of North Carolina; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-9010
• DOI: 10.1037/a0036950
• 发表日期: 2015
• 页码: 114-127
• 关键词: behavioral ethics; self-regulation; MORAL DISENGAGEMENT; REGULATORY FOCUS

摘要

Many recent corporate scandals have been described as resulting from a slippery slope in which a series of small infractions gradually increased over time (e.g., McLean & Elkind, 2003). However, behavioral ethics research has rarely considered how unethical behavior unfolds over time. In this study, we draw on theories of self-regulation to examine whether individuals engage in a slippery slope of increasingly unethical behavior. First, we extend Bandura-s (1991, 1999) social- cognitive theory by demonstrating how the mechanism of moral disengagement can reduce ethicality over a series of gradually increasing indiscretions. Second, we draw from recent research connecting regulatory focus theory and behavioral ethics (Gino & Margolis, 2011) to demonstrate that inducing a prevention focus moderates this mediated relationship by reducing one-s propensity to slide down the slippery slope. We find support for the developed model across 4 multiround studies.