A Multi-Functional View of Moral Disengagement: Exploring the Effects of Learning the Consequences

This paper takes us beyond the unethical act and explores the use of moral disengagement as a multi-stage, multi-functional regulatory, and coping mechanism that not only allows individuals to engage in unethical behavior, but also manage the negative emotions (i.e., guilt and shame) from learning the consequences of such behavior. A resource-based lens is applied to the moral disengagement process, suggesting that individuals not only morally disengage prior to committing an unethical act in order to conserve their own resources, but also morally disengage as a coping mechanism to reduce emotional duress upon learning of the consequences of their actions, which we describe as post-moral disengagement. These assertions are tested using a scenario-based laboratory study consisting of 182 respondents. Findings indicate that individuals will morally disengage in order to commit an unethical act, will experience negative emotions from having learned of the consequences, and then will engage in post-moral disengagement as a coping mechanism. In addition, the findings suggest that guilt and shame relate differently to moral disengagement

A Multi-Functional View of Moral Disengagement: Exploring the Effects of Learning the Consequences

This paper takes us beyond the unethical act and explores the use of moral disengagement as a multi-stage, multi-functional regulatory, and coping mechanism that not only allows individuals to engage in unethical behavior, but also manage the negative emotions (i.e., guilt and shame) from learning the consequences of such behavior. A resource-based lens is applied to the moral disengagement process, suggesting that individuals not only morally disengage prior to committing an unethical act in order to conserve their own resources, but also morally disengage as a coping mechanism to reduce emotional duress upon learning of the consequences of their actions, which we describe as post-moral disengagement. These assertions are tested using a scenario-based laboratory study consisting of 182 respondents. Findings indicate that individuals will morally disengage in order to commit an unethical act, will experience negative emotions from having learned of the consequences, and then will engage in post-moral disengagement as a coping mechanism. In addition, the findings suggest that guilt and shame relate differently to moral disengagement

Perceived organizational support in health care: the importance of teamwork and training for employee well-being and patient satisfaction

This study uses organizational support theory to examine how health care employees’ perceptions of teamwork influence patient satisfaction through a serial mediation involving employee well-being and intention to remain. The study also examines the extent to which the training that employees receive might enhance these relationships. Hypothesized assumptions are tested by multilevel analysis using data from 66,930 employees nested within 162 organizations from the British National Health Service (NHS). Our findings indicate that teamwork has a positive indirect association with patient satisfaction through employee well-being (i.e., job satisfaction and work engagement) and intention to remain, in sequence. The strength of this indirect relationship is also enhanced by training provided to employees by the organization

Character, conditions, and cognitions: the role of personality, climate, intensity, and moral disengagement in the unethical decision-making process

Despite increased attention given to unethical decision-making, few studies have simultaneously examined the multiple influences that may effect this outcome. In addition, few studies have examined the processes through which unethical decision-making may be influenced. Drawing on field theory and the concept of situational strength and social cognitive theory and the concept of moral disengagement, the researcher examined the simultaneous influence of the meta-personality trait core self-evaluation, ethical climate, and moral intensity on ethical decision-making along with the role of moral disengagement as a mediator of the relationship between core self-evaluation and intent to engage in unethical decision-making. In addition, intent to engage in unethical decision-making was explored as a mediator of the relationship between core self-evaluation and unethical behavior. Maximum-likelihood structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the main effects of core self-evaluation, ethical climate, and moral intensity as well as the mediating and moderating hypotheses. The study's implications as well as limitations and directions for future research are discussed. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries