The moderating effect of general system justification on the relationship between unethical behavior and self-esteem

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15411666
AutoresYuan Liang (0000-0001-8410-0815, Beijing Normal University), Liu Li (0009-0000-7928-8614, Beijing Normal University, autor correspondente), Xuyun Tan (0000-0001-5734-2878, Beijing Normal University), Jianning Dang (0000-0002-8174-0136, Beijing Normal University), Chao Li (0000-0002-7543-3973, Beijing Normal University), Zibei Gu (0000-0002-7552-3784, Beijing Normal University)
Ano2018
Volume19
Fascículo2
Páginas140-163
Data de publicação2018-10-29
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSelf and Identity (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1529-8868 • E-ISSN: 1529-8876
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15298868.2018.1541328
OpenAlexW2898794446
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas4
Referências citadas78

Previous studies obtained mixed results regarding the association between unethical behavior and self-esteem. To make sense of these results, the current research examined the moderating role of general system justification on the relationship between unethical behavior and self-esteem. Study 1 and Study 2, using a bribery scenario and an actual cheating behavior respectively, indicated that unethical behavior was positively related to self-esteem when general system justification was low, and the opposite was true when general system justification was high. Study 3 and Study 4, using a recall and a real behavior paradigms respectively, confirmed that the causal effect of unethical behavior on self-esteem was contingent upon general system justification. Our results imply that it is vital to increase the general system justification by promoting the process of social equity and justice to highlight the psychological cost of wrongdoing

Cheating · Cognitive psychology · Economic Justice · Economics · Equity (law · Recall · Self-esteem · System Justification · Wrongdoing · Ethics in Business and Education · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology