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The vigilante identity and organizations

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Fan Xuan
  • Graso, Maja
  • Aquino, Karl
  • Lin, Lily
  • Cheng, Joey T.
  • DeCelles, Katherine
  • Vadera, Abhijeet K.

Abstract

We test the theoretical and practical utility of the vigilante identity, a self-perception of being the kind of person who monitors their environment for signs of norm violations, and who punishes the perceived norm violator, without formal authority. We develop and validate a measure of the vigilante identity scale (VIS) and demonstrate the scale’s incremental predictive validity above and beyond seemingly related constructs (Studies 1 – 2e). We show that the VIS predicts hypervigilance towards organizational wrongdoing (Studies 2 and 4), punishment intentions and behavior in and of organizations (Studies 3 and 4) as well as in the wider community (Study 1), and is activated under organizational justice failure conditions (Study 3). We maintain that vigilantes can impact organizations and society from both inside and outside organizational walls and we discuss theoretical implications for scholarship on vigilantes, as well as on morality, social norms, and third-party punishment in organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Fan Xuan & Graso, Maja & Aquino, Karl & Lin, Lily & Cheng, Joey T. & DeCelles, Katherine & Vadera, Abhijeet K., 2022. "The vigilante identity and organizations," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jobhdp:v:170:y:2022:i:c:s0749597822000206
    DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2022.104136
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ernst Fehr & Urs Fischbacher, "undated". "Third Party Punishment and Social Norms," IEW - Working Papers 106, Institute for Empirical Research in Economics - University of Zurich.
    2. Loukas Balafoutas & Nikos Nikiforakis & Bettina Rockenbach, 2016. "Altruistic punishment does not increase with the severity of norm violations in the field," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-6, December.
    3. Kennedy, Jessica A. & Schweitzer, Maurice E., 2018. "Building trust by tearing others down: When accusing others of unethical behavior engenders trust," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 111-128.
    4. Elinor Ostrom, 2000. "Collective Action and the Evolution of Social Norms," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 14(3), pages 137-158, Summer.
    5. M. J. Crockett, 2017. "Moral outrage in the digital age," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 1(11), pages 769-771, November.
    6. Koopman, Joel & Matta, Fadel K. & Scott, Brent A. & Conlon, Donald E., 2015. "Ingratiation and popularity as antecedents of justice: A social exchange and social capital perspective," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 132-148.
    7. Eduardo Moncada, 2017. "Varieties of vigilantism: conceptual discord, meaning and strategies," Global Crime, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4), pages 403-423, October.
    8. repec:nas:journl:v:115:y:2018:p:7190-7199 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Keith Leavitt & Lei Zhu & Karl Aquino, 2016. "Good Without Knowing it: Subtle Contextual Cues can Activate Moral Identity and Reshape Moral Intuition," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 137(4), pages 785-800, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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