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Being “in Control” May Make You Lose Control: The Role of Self-Regulation in Unethical Leadership Behavior

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  • Anne Joosten
  • Marius Dijke
  • Alain Hiel
  • David Cremer

Abstract

In the present article, we argue that the constant pressure that leaders face may limit the willpower required to behave according to ethical norms and standards and may therefore lead to unethical behavior. Drawing upon the ego depletion and moral self-regulation literatures, we examined whether self-regulatory depletion that is contingent upon the moral identity of leaders may promote unethical leadership behavior. A laboratory experiment and a multisource field study revealed that regulatory resource depletion promotes unethical leader behaviors among leaders who are low in moral identity. No such effect was found among leaders with a high moral identity. This study extends our knowledge on why organizational leaders do not always conform to organizational goals. Specifically, we argue that the hectic and fragmented workdays of leaders may increase the likelihood that they violate ethical norms. This highlights the necessity to carefully schedule tasks that may have ethical implications. Similarly, organizations should be aware that overloading their managers with work may increase the likelihood of their leaders transgressing ethical norms. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Anne Joosten & Marius Dijke & Alain Hiel & David Cremer, 2014. "Being “in Control” May Make You Lose Control: The Role of Self-Regulation in Unethical Leadership Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(1), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:121:y:2014:i:1:p:1-14
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1686-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anne Joosten & Marius van Dijke & Alain Van Hiel & David De Cremer, 2015. "Out of Control!? How Loss of Self-Control Influences Prosocial Behavior: The Role of Power and Moral Values," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-20, May.
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    3. Irene Chu & Mai Chi Vu, 2022. "The Nature of the Self, Self-regulation and Moral Action: Implications from the Confucian Relational Self and Buddhist Non-self," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(1), pages 245-262, September.
    4. Will Bryant & Stephanie M. Merritt, 2021. "Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior and Positive Leader–Employee Relationships," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(4), pages 777-793, February.
    5. Al Halbusi, Hussam & Ruiz-Palomino, Pablo & Williams, Kent A., 2023. "Ethical leadership, subordinates’ moral identity and self-control: Two- and three-way interaction effect on subordinates’ ethical behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    6. Bruno Lussier & Nathaniel N. Hartmann & Willy Bolander, 2021. "Curbing the Undesirable Effects of Emotional Exhaustion on Ethical Behaviors and Performance: A Salesperson–Manager Dyadic Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(4), pages 747-766, April.
    7. Christine A. Hemingway & Ken Starkey, 2018. "A Falling of the Veils: Turning Points and Momentous Turning Points in Leadership and the Creation of CSR," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(4), pages 875-890, September.
    8. van Dijke, M.H., 2014. "Understanding Immoral Conduct in Business Settings: A Behavioural Ethics Approach," ERIM Inaugural Address Series Research in Management EIA-2014-060-ORG, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam..
    9. Alexander Newman & Huong Le & Andrea North-Samardzic & Michael Cohen, 2020. "Moral Disengagement at Work: A Review and Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(3), pages 535-570, December.
    10. Herbert J. DeGraffe, Jr., Ph.D., 2021. "Athletic Development Personality Relationship Emphasis on Global Business Leadership Challenges in Today’s Environment," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 5(07), pages 753-764, July.
    11. Herbert J. DeGraffe, Jr., Ph.D., 2021. "Athletic Development Personality Relationship Emphasis on Global Business Leadership Challenges in Today’s Environment," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 5(7), pages 753-764, July.
    12. Sharfa Hassan & Puneet Kaur & Michael Muchiri & Chidiebere Ogbonnaya & Amandeep Dhir, 2023. "Unethical Leadership: Review, Synthesis and Directions for Future Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(2), pages 511-550, March.
    13. Yue Yuan & Qi Zhang & Mengxi Yang, 2023. "Such a high cost: the positive effect of leader humor on employee incivility via psychological safety," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(2), pages 529-548, April.
    14. Virginia R. Stewart & Deirdre G. Snyder & Chia-Yu Kou, 2023. "We Hold Ourselves Accountable: A Relational View of Team Accountability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(3), pages 691-712, March.
    15. Yazhou Qin & Yuhua Xie & Fang Lee Cooke, 2023. "Unethical leadership and employee knowledge-hiding behavior in the Chinese context: a moderated dual-pathway model," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(2), pages 740-764, April.

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