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Spirituality and national culture as antecedents to ethical decision-making: a comparison between the United States and Norway

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  • Rafik Beekun
  • James Westerman

Abstract

We investigate the cross-cultural relationships between spirituality and ethical decision-making in Norway and the U.S. Data were collected from business students (n = 149) at state universities in Norway and the U.S. Results indicate that intention to behave ethically was significantly related to spirituality, national culture, and the influence of peers. Americans were significantly less ethical than Norwegians based on the three dimensions of ethics, yet more spiritual overall. Interestingly, the more spiritual were Norwegians, the more ethical was their decision-making. By contrast, the more spiritual were Americans, the less ethical was their decision-making. The research also found that peer influences were more important to Norwegians than to Americans in making ethical decisions. Finally, spiritual people from the U.S. were more likely to use a universalistic form of justice ethics, as opposed to a more particularistic form of justice ethics used by Norwegians. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

Suggested Citation

  • Rafik Beekun & James Westerman, 2012. "Spirituality and national culture as antecedents to ethical decision-making: a comparison between the United States and Norway," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 110(1), pages 33-44, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:110:y:2012:i:1:p:33-44
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-011-1145-x
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    1. James Westerman & Rafik Beekun & Yvonne Stedham & Jeanne Yamamura, 2007. "Peers Versus National Culture: An Analysis of Antecedents to Ethical Decision-making," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 75(3), pages 239-252, October.
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