Automatic ethics: the effects of implicit assumptions and contextual cues on moral behavior.
We empirically examine the reflexive or automatic aspects of moral decision making. To begin, we develop and validate a measure of an individual's implicit assumption regarding the inherent morality of business. Then, using an in-basket exercise, we demonstrate that an implicit assumption that business is inherently moral impacts day-to-day business decisions and interacts with contextual cues to shape moral behavior. Ultimately, we offer evidence supporting a characterization of employees as reflexive interactionists: moral agents whose automatic decision-making processes interact with the environment to shape their moral behavior.
Reynolds
Scott J
SJ
Michael G. Foster School of Business, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98028, USA. heyscott@u.washington.edu
Leavitt
Keith
K
DeCelles
Katherine A
KA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D003469:Culture; D004989:Ethics; D040861:Ethics, Business; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009014:Morals; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult