Understanding the Consequences of Unethical Behavior

In recent years, there has been a large body of research examining why employees engage in unethical behavior. Scholars have made substantial progress in terms of understanding the antecedents and processes associated with unethicality. Yet, there remains an important opportunity to more systematically investigate the consequences of unethical behavior from a variety of perspectives. For observers of unethical behavior, there may be a variety of negative consequences as well as potentially unanticipated positive consequences. These effects might occur through the specific morally-relevant emotions, such as anger or vicarious shame, experienced by the observers of unethicality and their subsequent behavioral responses. Additionally, the motives of the transgressor may play an important role in shaping the reactions of others. Observers may also react differently to victims of unethical behavior based on whether the victims decide to forgive the perpetrator. Finally, to pursue ethicality in the workplace, an employee’s own ethical focus on a given day may influence how they feel and whether or not they rise to the occasion when presented with an opportunity to do the right thing. The purpose of this symposium is to deepen scholars’ understanding of the consequences of unethicality via multiple perspectives and methodologies. Are there Benefits or Detriments (or Both) to Observing Coworker Cheating Behavior? Presenter: Marie S. Mitchell; U. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Presenter: Shubha Sharma; U. of Georgia Presenter: Mo Chen; School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology Presenter: Mingyun Huai; Tongji U. How does Observing a Member's Unethical Behavior Influence Your Group Behavior? Intention Matters Presenter: Young Won Rhee; U. of Washington Presenter: Elizabeth Eve Umphress; U. of Washington Understanding Why Employees Cover Up Unethical Behaviors Presenter: Jenny Hejia Wang; U. of Guelph Presenter: Laurie Barclay; U. of Guelph To Forgive or to Show Integrity? Forgiveness Decreases Integrity but Increases Benevolence Presenter: Rebecca Schaumberg; The Wharton School, U. of Pennsylvania Presenter: Scott Wiltermuth; USC Presenter: Gabrielle Adams; U. of Virginia Compliant not Courageous? Paradoxical Ethical Consequences of Focusing on Values versus Compliance Presenter: Grace Ching Chi Ho; Arizona State U. Presenter: David Welsh; Arizona State U. Presenter: Michael Baer; Arizona State U. Presenter: John Bush; U. of Central Florida