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The Effects of Proximity and Empathy on Ethical Decision-Making: An Exploratory Investigation

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Abstract

The goals of this research were to (1) explore the direct effects of and interactions between magnitude of consequences and various types of proximity – social, psychological, and physical – on the ethical decision-making process and (2) investigate the influence of empathy on the ethical decision-making process. A carpal tunnel syndrome vignette and questionnaire were administered to a sample of human resource management professionals to test the hypothesized relationships. Significant relationships were found for the main effects between magnitude of consequences and principle-based evaluation, cognitive empathy and principle-based evaluation, and empathy and moral intention. Physical proximity moderated the relationships between magnitude of consequences and utilitarian evaluation as well as magnitude of consequences and moral intention. Cognitive empathy moderated the relationships between magnitude of consequences and principle-based evaluation and physical proximity and utilitarian evaluation. Affective empathy marginally moderated the relationship between physical proximity and principle-based evaluation. Future research directions, management implications, and strengths and weaknesses of the research are discussed.

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Abbreviations

EDM:

Ethical Decision-Making

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  1. Department of Management Studies, University of Minnesota Duluth, 113 SBE, 412 Library Drive, Duluth, MN, 55811, U.S.A.

    Jennifer Mencl

  2. International Center for Ethics in Business, School of Business, The University of Kansas, 330 Summerfield Hall, 1300 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS, 66045, U.S.A.

    Douglas R. May

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Mencl, J., May, D.R. The Effects of Proximity and Empathy on Ethical Decision-Making: An Exploratory Investigation. J Bus Ethics 85, 201–226 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9765-5

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