Do contextual factors matter?

Abstract

Drawing on the moral intensity concept and attribution theory, this vignette study investigates the influence of contextual factors on people’s ethical judgments of others’ behavior in corruption situations. It examines differences regarding corruption occurring in a national or international context, in an environment where it is usual or unusual, with high or low bribes, initiatively or reactively, because of private or organizational motives, and in situations of financial sufficiency or deficiency. The results show that corruption in situations where it is usual, motivated by organizational reasons, and initiated because of financial difficulties is judged as significantly less unethical. The paper discusses the findings’ implications for the prevention of corruption in organizations.