Citizenship and Counterproductive Work Behavior: A Moral Licensing View

Abstract

Despite the generally negative relationship between organizational citizenship behaviors and counterproductive work behaviors, employees often engage in both. Psychologists have found that when people engage in morally praiseworthy behaviors, they often grant themselves a moral license to behave immorally. In this article we draw on moral licensing theory and research on identity orientations to explain why and when citizenship behavior may lead to subsequent counterproductive behavior. We also explain how the harm done to the personal reputation of employees who engage in counterproductive work behaviors will be lessened by the degree to which they have a moral license to engage in such behaviors.