Dangerously Close: The Reciprocal Link Between Social Closeness and Bad Behavior

Abstract

Reducing unethical behavior is an important goal for many organizations. Prior research demonstrates that social closeness – i.e., psychological or real social proximity to others – may reduce unethical behavior. Simply feeling close to others, using gestures to signal interpersonal closeness, belonging to a tight knit group, or being in a high density social network typically leads to less selfish and more other-focused, moral behavior. In the current symposium we explore the limitations of social closeness. This symposium engages a comprehensive methodological approach in order to understand when social closeness may have negative consequences, spanning levels of analysis from intrapersonal to social network. First, Lucas and Livingston explore how feeling socially connected increases people’s willingness to harm others in moral dilemmas (intrapersonal level). Next, Schroeder, Fishbach, Schein, and Gray demonstrate when intimate interactions lead to antisocial behavior (interpersonal level). Third, Effron and Knowles show how group entitativity licenses out- group prejudice (intragroup level). Finally, in a test of the reciprocal link, Lee, Im, and Parmar demonstrate how behaving unethically promotes the activation of a high-density network (social network level). By demonstrating the limitations of social closeness to promote ethical behavior, we identify potential areas for future theory building and research. Feeling Socially Connected Increases Utilitarian Choices in Moral Dilemmas Presenter: Brian Lucas; Northwestern Kellogg School of Management Presenter: Robert W. Livingston; U. of Sussex Thick as Thieves? Consequences of Dishonest Behavior on Egocentric Social Network Presenter: Jooa Julia Lee; Harvard U. Presenter: Dong-Kyun Im; U. of Seoul Presenter: Bidhan Parmar; U. of Virginia People Behave Antisocially in Intimate Instrumental Interactions Presenter: Juliana Schroeder; The U. of Chicago Presenter: Ayelet Fishbach; The U. of Chicago Presenter: Chelsea Schein; U. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Presenter: Kurt Gray; U. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill How Belonging to a Cohesive Group Allows People to Express Their Prejudices Presenter: Daniel A. Effron; London Business School Presenter: Eric David Knowles; U. of California, Irvine