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The Bright and Dark Sides of Religiosity Among University Students: Do Gender, College Major, and Income Matter?

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Abstract

We develop a theoretical model involving religiosity [intrinsic (I), extrinsic-social (E s), and extrinsic-personal (E p), Time 1], Machiavellianism (Time 2), and propensity to engage in unethical behavior (Time 2) to investigate direct and indirect paths. We collected two-wave panel data from 359 students who had some work experiences. For the whole sample, intrinsic religiosity (I) indirectly curbed unethical intentions through the absence of Machiavellianism, the bright side of religiosity. Both extrinsic-social (E s) and extrinsic-personal (E p) directly, while extrinsic-social (E s) indirectly, exacerbated unethical intentions, the dark side of religiosity. Multiple-group analyses across gender, college major, and income showed that the bright side existed directly for low-income students, but indirectly for males and females, business majors, and low-income students. Our novel finding showed that E p undermined unethical intentions indirectly for females. For the dark side, E s incited unethical intentions directly for males, business students, and low-income individuals, but indirectly for females, psychology majors, and low-income people. The Machiavellianism–unethical intentions relationship was the strongest for high-income participants. Religiosity had the highest number of significant paths for low-income individuals and the strongest dark side for males and high-income students, but the highest bright outcome for females. Our novel, original findings foster theory development and testing, add new vocabulary to the conversation of religiosity and unethical intentions, and improve practice.

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Notes

  1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Love your neighbor (Mark 12: 30). Love one another (John 13: 34). Love your enemies (Matthew 5: 44).

  2. We “aspire” to please him (2 Corinthians 5: 9).

  3. They acted with complete honesty (2 Kings 12:15).

  4. The rash man has no integrity; but the just man, because of his faith, shall live (Habakkuk 2: 4).

  5. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist…. Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me” (John 13: 5, 8).

  6. Trust in the LORD with all your heart (Proverbs 3: 5).

  7. It is I who will assist you in speaking and will teach you what you are to say (Exodus 4: 12).

  8. Peace be with you (John 20: 21).

  9. Sample size was smaller in MANOVA due to the missing data of seven demographic variables.

  10. Mark 4:31–32.

  11. Exodus 4: 11–13.

  12. Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily (Habakkuk, 2: 2).

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank late Fr. Wiatt Funk, Fr. Mark Sappenfield (St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Murfreesboro, TN), and Fr. Dave Heney (St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church, Thousand Oaks, CA) for their inspiration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rinker School of Business, Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, FL, 33416, USA

    Yuh-Jia Chen

  2. Department of Management and Marketing, Jennings A. Jones College of Business, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA

    Thomas Li-Ping Tang

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  1. Yuh-Jia Chen
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Correspondence to Thomas Li-Ping Tang.

Appendix

Appendix

Religiosity Scale

Intrinsic Religiosity

  1. 1.

    I enjoy reading about religion.

  2. 2.

    It is important for me to spend time in private thought and prayer.

  3. 3.

    It doesn’t much matter what I believe so long as I am good. (R, reverse scored)

  4. 4.

    I have often had a strong sense of God’s presence.

  5. 5.

    I try hard to live all my life according to my religious beliefs.

  6. 6.

    Although I am religious, I don’t let it affect my daily life. (R)

  7. 7.

    My whole approach to life is based on my religion.

  8. 8.

    Although I believe in my religion, many other things are more important in my life. (R)

Extrinsic Religiosity (Social)

  1. 9.

    I go to religious services because it helps me to make friends.

  2. 10.

    I go to religious services mostly to spend time with my friends.

  3. 11.

    I go to religious service mainly because I enjoy seeing people I know there.

Extrinsic Religiosity (Personal)

  1. 12.

    I pray mainly to gain relief and protection.

  2. 13.

    What religion offers me the most is comfort in times of trouble and sorrow.

  3. 14.

    Prayer is for peace and happiness.

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Chen, YJ., Tang, T.LP. The Bright and Dark Sides of Religiosity Among University Students: Do Gender, College Major, and Income Matter?. J Bus Ethics 115, 531–553 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1407-2

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