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Investigating the Effects of Anger and Guilt on Unethical Behavior: A Dual-Process Approach

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Abstract

Although emotion has become one of the most popular research areas within organizational scholarship, few studies have considered its connection with unethical behavior. Using dual-process theory, we expand on the rationalist perspective within the field of behavioral ethics by considering the process through which two discrete emotions, anger and guilt, influence unethical behavior. Across two studies using different methodologies, we found that anger increases unethical behavior whereas guilt reduces unethical behavior. These effects were mediated by impulsive and deliberative processing. Overall, our results shed light on distinct mechanisms through which emotions can influence unethical behavior. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

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Notes

  1. We also performed a one-way ANOVA with planned contrasts assuming unequal variances on overpayment in the Matrix task that was not log transformed: F(2, 113) = 9.60, p < .001, η 2 = .15. Angry individuals cheated significantly more than neutral individuals, t(73.17) = 2.13, p < .05. Guilty individuals cheated significantly less than neutral individuals, t(44.08) = 2.18, p < .05, and angry individuals cheated significantly more than guilty individuals, t(39.72) = 4.72, p < .001, supporting our hypotheses. A one-way ANOVA with planned contrasts assuming equal variances on overpayment in the Matrix task that was not log transformed also supported our overall model. Angry participants took significantly more undeserved quarters than neutral participants, t(113) = 2.58, p < .05. Guilty participants cheated somewhat less than neutral participants t(113) = 1.84, p < .10, and angry participants cheated significantly more than guilty participants t(113) = 4.37, p < .001.

  2. To avoid “floor effects” (Primi et al. 2015, p. 1) sometimes associated with the original measure, the expanded 10-item CRT that we use includes the original three-item measure (Frederick 2005), plus the three new items developed by Primi et al. (2015; what they term the CRT-Long), and the four new items developed by Thomson and Oppenheimer (2016; what they term the CRT-2).

  3. We also performed a one-way ANOVA with planned contrasts that showed a significant effect of emotion on number correct on the CRT with equal variances among conditions assumed, F(2, 235) = 8.86, p < .001, η 2 = .07. Angry participants answered significantly fewer questions correctly than neutral participants, t(235) = 2.13, p < .05. Guilty participants correctly answered significantly more questions than neutral participants, t(235) = 2.09, p < .05, and angry participants answered significantly fewer questions correctly than guilty participants, t(235) = 4.21, p < .001, supporting our hypotheses.

  4. In addition, we ran a one-way ANOVA with planned contrasts assuming unequal variances on overpayment in the Joker task that was not log transformed: F(2, 235) = 7.12, p < .01, η 2 = .06. Angry individuals claimed more undeserved money in dollars than neutral individuals, t(150.49) = 1.74, p < .10. Guilty individuals claimed significantly less undeserved money than neutral individuals, t(130.39) = 2.16, p < .05, and angry individuals claimed significantly more undeserved money than guilty individuals, t(114.32) = 3.81, p < .001, supporting our hypotheses. A one-way ANOVA with planned contrasts revealed a significant effect of emotion on non-log transformed overpayment assuming equal variances, F(2, 235) = 7.12, p < .001, η 2 = .06. Angry individuals claimed significantly more undeserved money in dollars than neutral individuals, t(235) = 1.99, p < .05. Guilty participants claimed less undeserved money than neutral individuals, t(235) = 1.79, p < .10, and angry individuals claimed significantly more undeserved money than guilty individuals, t(235) = 3.77, p < .001, supporting our hypotheses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management and Organizations, University of Arizona, Eller College of Management, McClelland Hall, 406, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Daphna Motro

  2. University of Arizona, Eller College of Management, McClelland Hall, 417, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Lisa D. Ordóñez

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Heymans Building, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Andrea Pittarello

  4. Arizona State University, W. P. Carey School of Business, 400 E. Lemon St., Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA

    David T. Welsh

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  1. Daphna Motro
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  2. Lisa D. Ordóñez
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  3. Andrea Pittarello
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  4. David T. Welsh
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Correspondence to Daphna Motro.

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Motro, D., Ordóñez, L.D., Pittarello, A. et al. Investigating the Effects of Anger and Guilt on Unethical Behavior: A Dual-Process Approach. J Bus Ethics 152, 133–148 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3337-x

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