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Sharing is (not) caring? The interactive effects of power and psychological distance on tolerance of unethical behavior

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  • Paramita, Widya
  • Septianto, Felix
  • Winahjoe, Sari
  • Purwanto, B.M.
  • Candra, Ika Diyah

Abstract

Despite the tremendous growth of Airbnb, various media have reported ethical misconduct occurring within the Airbnb context by both hosts and users. The current research seeks to examine the interactive effects of power (high vs. low) and psychological distance (close vs. distant) to explain individual tolerance of unethical behavior across two experimental studies for the case of Airbnb. Specifically, we propose that when an individual (i.e., an Airbnb host or user) feels powerless (vs. powerful), that individual will show a low level of tolerance to unethical behavior and tend to judge the ethical behavior more harshly. However, the effect of power will only emerge in the psychologically close condition (e.g., a host judging a host's unethical behavior), but not in the psychologically distant condition (e.g., a host judging a user's unethical behavior). Further, we establish that this interactive effect is mediated by feelings of empathy.

Suggested Citation

  • Paramita, Widya & Septianto, Felix & Winahjoe, Sari & Purwanto, B.M. & Candra, Ika Diyah, 2020. "Sharing is (not) caring? The interactive effects of power and psychological distance on tolerance of unethical behavior," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 42-49.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:aumajo:v:28:y:2020:i:3:p:42-49
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ausmj.2019.12.002
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    3. Ngo, Liem Viet & Nguyen, Thi Nguyet Que & Tran, Nam The & Paramita, Widya, 2020. "It takes two to tango: The role of customer empathy and resources to improve the efficacy of frontline employee empathy," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
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    5. Starr, Richard G. & Zhu, Andrew Q. & Frethey-Bentham, Catherine & Brodie, Roderick J., 2020. "Peer-to-peer interactions in the sharing economy: Exploring the role of reciprocity within a Chinese social network," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 67-80.
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    7. Khalil, Mary & Khan, Saira & Septianto, Felix, 2020. "Effects of power and implicit theories on donation," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 98-107.
    8. Lang, Bodo & Botha, Elsamari & Robertson, Jeandri & Kemper, Joya A. & Dolan, Rebecca & Kietzmann, Jan, 2020. "How to grow the sharing economy? Create Prosumers!," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 58-66.
    9. Paramita, Widya & Purnomo, Boyke R. & Virgosita, Risa & Wibowo, Amin, 2022. "Small is beautiful: Insights from the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions on layoff decision in micro and small enterprises," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 18(C).
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