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Feeling Guilty and Entitled: Paradoxical Consequences of Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Mo Chen

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Chao C. Chen

    (Rutgers University)

  • Marshall Schminke

    (University of Central Florida)

Abstract

Given the paradoxical nature of unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB), that it simultaneously involves sincere extraordinary efforts to help the organization but violates ethical norms, we examined its paradoxical psychological and behavioral outcomes in the workplace. We hypothesized that UPB generates simultaneous but conflicting feelings: On one hand, guilt (for having behaved unethically) and on the other, psychological entitlement (for having done something positive for the organization). In turn, these conflicting psychological states differentially affect two conflicting behaviors. Feelings of guilt motivate customer service behavior but reduce self-serving cheating, whereas psychological entitlement does the opposite. We further hypothesized that moral identity centrality moderates the paradoxical effects of UPB. Data from three studies using experimental and field methodologies demonstrated support for all hypotheses. We discuss the theoretical and managerial implications of these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Mo Chen & Chao C. Chen & Marshall Schminke, 2023. "Feeling Guilty and Entitled: Paradoxical Consequences of Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(3), pages 865-883, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:183:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-022-05109-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-022-05109-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shao, Ruodan & Aquino, Karl & Freeman, Dan, 2008. "Beyond Moral Reasoning: A Review of Moral Identity Research and Its Implications for Business Ethics," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(4), pages 513-540, October.
    2. Elizabeth E. Umphress & John B. Bingham, 2011. "When Employees Do Bad Things for Good Reasons: Examining Unethical Pro-Organizational Behaviors," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(3), pages 621-640, June.
    3. Hannah, Sean T. & Jennings, Peter L. & Bluhm, Dustin & Peng, Ann Chunyan & Schaubroeck, John M., 2014. "Duty orientation: Theoretical development and preliminary construct testing," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 123(2), pages 220-238.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Hildreth, John Angus D., 2024. "When loyalty binds: Examining the effectiveness of group versus personal loyalty calls on followers’ compliance with leaders’ unethical requests," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).

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