Antecedents to the Justification of Norm Violating Behavior Among Business Practitioners

Scott J. Vitell, Megan Keith, Manisha Mathur

Journal of Business Ethics · 2011 · Volume 101 · Issue 1

Abstract

This study investigates the role that moral identity, religiosity, and the institutionalization of ethics play in determining the extent of justification of norm violating behavior among business practitioners. Moral justification is where a person, rather than assuming responsibility for an outcome, attempts to legitimize ethically questionable behavior. Results of the study indicate that both the internalization and symbolization dimensions of moral identity as well asintrinsicreligiosity and theexplicitinstitutionalization of ethics within the organization are significant determinants of the moral justification of unethical behaviors.

Keywords

moral justification, norm violating behavior, moral identity, religiosity, institutionalization of business ethics

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