"Good Apples in Good Barrels: Ethical Code Enforcement, Conscientiousness, and Unethical Behavior"

Abstract

Environmental and individual antecedents of unethical behavior have each received substantial research attention, but the interactions between these two antecedents are less well- understood. Using norm-focus theory and trait activation theory, we argue that enforcement of an ethical code and employee conscientiousness will have interactive effects on unethical behavior. In a laboratory study (N = 94), participants completed personality scales online, and then attended a lab session in which a code of conduct was presented and the participants had the opportunity to earn additional compensation if they acted unethically. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions, in which the code of conduct was strongly enforced, weakly enforced, or enforcement was ambiguous. Results showed that (a) whether a code of conduct is enforced and (b) participant conscientiousness were both negatively related to unethical behavior. More importantly, and consistent with the authors’ predictions, there was a Conscientiousness x Code Enforcement interaction, such that conscientiousness was negatively related to unethical behavior only when ethical codes are strictly enforced. The authors conclude that reducing unethical behavior in organizations may require a two-pronged approach.