Right Is What that Benefits All, or that Which Is Morally Correct: An Enquiry on How Ethical Standards of Judgment (Consequentialism Vs Formalism) Complements the Effect of Empathy, Personal Values, and Personality Traits on Moral Cognition, and Conation Processes, Leading Towards Ethical Competence

Abstract

Ethical predispositions are foundational to how an individual’s reason. They shape both moral awareness and moral decisions. Within organizations, they influence perceptions of justice and administrative policies. Descriptions of ethical predispositions are broadly based around two frameworks: consequentialism and formalism (the tendency to assess ethical situations in terms of their consequences to people, or, in terms of their consistent conformity to patterns or rules or some other formal features). But the question remains that how these predispositions affect moral judgment and behavior that ultimately leads towards ethical competence. For this, we proposed a theoretical framework modifying the Pohling et. al. (2016) model of Ethical Competence to include an Ethical predispositions framework based on the Love et. al. (2020) conceptualization of Ethical Standards of Judgment. We hypothesized that empathy through personal values, as well as personality, affects moral cognition, and Conation processes. These processes ultimately shape Ethical Competence. Moreover, judgment standards of consequentialism and formalism complement this effect. We used moral judgment and discourse competence and counterproductive work behavior as indicators of moral cognition, and Conation processes, respectively. Empirical validity was established by conducting a survey using a close-ended questionnaire. Dataset was collected from about 200 bank employees and analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structured equation modeling. The results showed personality and values seem to have a significant impact on both moral conation and cognition. All seem to have a positive effect except the negative effect of values on moral conation. This means moral value can be able to recognize morals but the behavior is more linked to personality. Both moral conations also lead to ethical competency. Results also found a strong and positive effect of moral cognition on moral conation. The ethical predisposition of each formalism seems to have a positive impact on personal values. However, formalism seems to negatively influence the moral conation process. Moreover, no significant complementarities were witnessed in any relationship as both moderators of formalism and consequentialism did not have a significant impact on the relationship. Results also showed moral cognition seems to positively mediate the effect of personality and values on ethical competency. Similarly, moral cognition also mediates personality and ethical competency nexus. Formalism also leads towards ethical competency through moral conation and values directly, as well as through values then moral conation. Whereas Consequentialism also affects ethical competency first through values, then onwards through Moral Conation. Findings suggested that the moral systems of consequentialism and formalism foresee ethical mindfulness and conduct in people, but modern-day measures both don’t deal with these structures as self-sufficient or want sample hypothetical underpinnings and factual steadfastness.