Recovery and Recidivism: The Aftermath of Helping the Organization Unethically

• Published in: Journal of business and psychology
• Main Authors: Yan, Hongmin, Okimoto, Tyler G., Solnet, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 03-10-2024
• ISSN: 0889-3268; 1573-353X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10869-024-09988-x

This research draws from moral self-regulation and moral disengagement theories to examine how employees react to their own unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB). We hypothesize that UPB will elicit mixed moral-based cognitive responses among employees that promote both recovery and recidivism. Results of two studies show that, on the one hand, engaging in UPB damaged perpetrators' moral self-concept, captured by an increase in perceived loss of moral credits; this prompted them to perform customer-directed helping behaviors to recover their damaged moral self-concept; on the other hand, UPB also elicited a cognitive justification process, which was related to an increase in subsequent UPB. This nuanced reaction helps explain why individuals' moral self-regulation does not necessarily remedy for moral failings, while also suggesting practical steps that leaders can take to prevent a "slippery slope" pattern of UPB from taking hold in the organization.