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Under the Threat of an Epidemic: People with Higher Subjective Socioeconomic Status Show More Unethical Behaviors

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  • Ting Wang

    (School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

  • Xue Wang

    (Marketing Department, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China)

  • Tonglin Jiang

    (School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

  • Shiyao Wang

    (Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China)

  • Zhansheng Chen

    (Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China)

Abstract

This research focused on the psychological impact of an epidemic. We conducted a cross-sectional survey and two empirical experiments to examine how an epidemic would influence unethical behaviors and how the effect differs in people of different subjective socioeconomic statuses. These studies consistently demonstrated that subjective socioeconomic status moderates the relationship between an epidemic and unethical behaviors. Specifically, the perceived severity of an epidemic positively predicts the unethical behaviors of people with a high socioeconomic status, but it does not predict the unethical behaviors of people with a low socioeconomic status. These findings elucidate the effects of epidemics and bring theoretical and practical implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Ting Wang & Xue Wang & Tonglin Jiang & Shiyao Wang & Zhansheng Chen, 2021. "Under the Threat of an Epidemic: People with Higher Subjective Socioeconomic Status Show More Unethical Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3170-:d:520183
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daphna Motro & Lisa D. Ordóñez & Andrea Pittarello & David T. Welsh, 2018. "Investigating the Effects of Anger and Guilt on Unethical Behavior: A Dual-Process Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 133-148, September.
    2. Martin Korndörfer & Boris Egloff & Stefan C Schmukle, 2015. "A Large Scale Test of the Effect of Social Class on Prosocial Behavior," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-48, July.
    3. Winterich, Karen Page & Mittal, Vikas & Morales, Andrea C., 2014. "Protect thyself: How affective self-protection increases self-interested, unethical behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 125(2), pages 151-161.
    4. Martin Korndörfer & Boris Egloff & Stefan C. Schmukle, 2015. "A Large Scale Test of the Effect of Social Class on Prosocial Behavior," Working Papers 1601, Gutenberg School of Management and Economics, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
    5. Yuh-Jia Chen & Thomas Tang, 2006. "Attitude Toward and Propensity to Engage in Unethical Behavior: Measurement Invariance across Major among University Students," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 69(1), pages 77-93, November.
    6. Martin Korndörfer & Boris Egloff & Stefan C. Schmukle, 2015. "A Large Scale Test of the Effect of Social Class on Prosocial Behavior," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 808, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
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    Cited by:

    1. Yuwan Dai & Hao Li & Wenting Xie & Tianyi Deng, 2022. "Power Distance Belief and Workplace Communication: The Mediating Role of Fear of Authority," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Leif Brändle & Helen Signer & Andreas Kuckertz, 2023. "Socioeconomic status and entrepreneurial networking responses to the COVID-19 crisis," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 93(1), pages 111-147, January.
    3. Yi Ren & Linmei Zhuang & Dingde Xu, 2024. "Perceived Status and Sustainable Actions: How Subjective Socioeconomic Status Drives Green Energy Consumption in Chinese Households," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, July.

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