Potential Predictors of Whistle-Blowing: A Prosocial Behavior Perspective

Abstract

Why do some observers of organizational wrongdoing choose to report it? This question has received little research attention despite its prominence in the popular media. This paper attempts to show that whistle-blowing is a form of prosocial behavior. Empirical studies in the social-psychological literature of prosocial behavior provide clues about personality and situational variables predictive of whistle-blowing. Latané's and Barley's (1968, 1970) bystander intervention framework is modified for whistle-blowing decisions. Propositions for future research are offered.