Corrupt Intent Research Articles

Are Those with Darker Personality Traits more Willing to Corrupt When They Feel Anxious

This unprecedented research endeavors to investigate the relationship between dark personality traits (i.e., narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and corruption intention through the mediation of anxiety. Based on the resource conservation theory, it is hypothesized that those higher in dark personality traits are more inclined to corrupt when they feel anxious. Having collected data in the south of Iran from 273 employees of various organizations at two-time points in 2017 and 2018, five months apart, the authors conducted confirmatory factor analysis and used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to acquire the results. In Formative SEM, sub-constructs are considered separately since they may have diverse effects and causes, and hence, require to be considered as disparate variables (Srivastava et al. 2001) and this method is used in various studies in high-quality journals (e.g., Tang et al., 2018; Gentina et l., 2018; Gentina & Tang, 2018). In the formative SEM model, based on the data analysis, Dark Triad was formed through high narcissism and Machiavellianism and low psychopathy. The findings revealed that the Dark Triad bears a significant indirect positive relationship with corruption intention through anxiety. Anxiety acts as a full mediator between Dark Triad and corruption intention. All in all, this study extended previous research by providing evidence that anxiety can contribute to corruption intention for those with Dark Triad traits.

The Effect Of Moral Integrity, Lifestyle And Organizational Culture On Anti-Corruption Intention

This study aims to examine the effect of moral integrity, lifestyle and organizational culture on anti-corruption intention involving 54 police officers and 97 civil servants of police in police institution X. Sampling technique in this study using non-probability sampling. The measuring tool used in this study consists of the Anti Corruption Intelligence Scale which the authors develop themselves to measure the anti-corruption intention, Moral Integrity Scale to measure moral integrity, AIO Psychographic to measure lifestyles, and the Denison Organizational Culture Survey to measure organizational culture. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to test the validity of measuring instrument and Multiple Regression Analysis is used to test the research hypothesis. The results revealed that there was a significant of moral integrity, lifestyle and organizational culture against anti corruption intention at 56.3%. It means that the proportion of varians of anti-corruption intention in can be explained by moral integrity, lifestyle, and organizational culture at 56.3% and 43.7% explored by other factors. DOI:10.15408/tazkiya.v22i2.8413

Corruption Intentions Among Prospective Elites in Ghana: An Economy of Esteem

Besides its multiple harms, corruption undermines the rule of law and impedes the effective functioning of criminal justice institutions. It involves both elites in bending rules and laws as well as police at the bottom of the hierarchy asking for bribes. We analyze corruption intentions within the framework of Brennan and Pettit’s “economy of esteem,” using three main conceptual frameworks: attachment to kinship groups, materialistic orientations, and deterrence. We draw on data from a survey of 530 university students in Ghana to examine predictors of corruption intentions of prospective elites. Our prospective elites were more inclined to resort to influence peddling rather than to pay bribes directly. We find that attitudinal patterns indicative of esteem predict intentions to engage in corrupt exchanges across different agencies and contexts—police, procurement for government, and abuse of power—as well as different types of action, whether bribe payment or nepotism. In contrast, citizenly pride (and self-esteem) motivates integrity across all types of corrupt exchange. Deterrence, in terms of certainty, had a more consistently negative impact on intentions to engage in nepotism than in bribe paying and acceptance, with public procurement being the exception; no effect was found for stigma, and only police nepotism was an exception to the otherwise non-significant effects of severity.

How social face consciousness influences corrupt intention: Examining the effects of Honesty–Humility and moral disengagement

ABSTRACTThis study aims to explore the relationship between social face consciousness and corrupt intention. Based on social cognitive theory, we established a mediated moderation model in which Honesty–Humility moderated the link between social face consciousness and corrupt intention, and moral disengagement mediated this moderating effect. Data were collected from an online survey of Chinese adults (N = 1,061) using self-administered questionnaires. Results revealed that Honesty–Humility cushioned the effect of social face consciousness on corrupt intention, such that this effect was stronger for individuals with low Honesty–Humility than for those with high Honesty–Humility. Findings also supported that the moderating effect of Honesty–Humility was partially mediated by moral disengagement. These results not only corroborate the critical role of social face consciousness in influencing corrupt intention but also shed some light on when and how social face consciousness results in corrupt intention. Implications and limitations were also discussed.

SEMANTIK PROTOTIPE KORUPSI: KAJIAN LINGUISTIK KOGNITIF

Semantics Corruption Prototype: Cognitive Linguistic Study. Semantic Prototype Corruption: Cognitive Linguistics Review. This study aims to define corruption through prototype theory in cognitive linguistics. The research is designed through a qualitative-quantitative approach with Tomaszczyk (2007) prototype theory. The results of the study indicate that the most corrupt variables affecting the degree of corruption are (1) 'unlawful rewards' and (2) 'abuse of authority', while (3) 'knowing that it is corruption' and (4) 'corrupt intent' no effect. Based on the background of respondents there is no difference in the degree of degree of corruption.

Effects of perceived descriptive norms on corrupt intention: The mediating role of moral disengagement.

The present study attempts to examine the effect of perceived descriptive norms on corrupt intention (e.g., bribe-taking intention) and then further explore the psychological mechanism underlying this effect. Based on social cognitive theory, we established a mediation model in which moral disengagement partially mediated the link between perceived descriptive norms and corrupt intention. In Study 1, participants (N = 690) completed a series of questionnaires, and the results demonstrated that, while perceived descriptive norms were positively associated with corrupt intention, it was partially mediated by moral disengagement. In Study 2, we conducted a priming experiment (N = 161) to test the causal relationship and psychological mechanism between perceived descriptive norms and corrupt intention. The results revealed that perceived descriptive norms triggered the propensity of individuals to morally disengage, which in turn, partially increased their corrupt intention. This study not only extends previous research by providing evidence that moral disengagement may be one of the reasons why perceived descriptive norms facilitate corrupt intention, but also suggests that reshaping normative beliefs and preventing the moral disengagement of individuals may be the effective ways to curb corrupt behaviours.

The Effects of General System Justification on Corruption Perception and Intent.

Previous research stresses that system justifying belief can weaken corruption perception, by this possibly fostering unjust behaviors. However, general results of the effect of general system justification on corruption are ambiguous, indicating also a lessening impact. We conducted a line of studies trying to elucidate these circumstances by testing the effect of general system justification on corruption perception and intention. In addition, we explored institutional trust as a possible mediator in this process. For this purpose, we conducted three studies. The first two studies examined the association between general system justification and corruption. In Study 1, a correlational design was run using questionnaires to assess the relation between general system justification and corruption perception as well as corruption intention. In Study 2, an experimental design was conducted manipulating general system justification via exposure to high or low system threat condition, then measuring its effect on corruption perception and corrupt intention. In Study 3, two sub-studies using correlational and experimental designs were run to explore the mediating role of institutional trust, respectively. Results replicated former studies showing that general system justification is negatively associated with corruption perception. However, they also showed a negative correlation with corrupt intention. Furthermore, they showed that institutional trust mediated the relation between general system justification and corruption. We suggest to consider these findings to further elucidate the psychological basis underlying different effects of general system justification on human behaviors.

The Effect of Self-Esteem on Corrupt Intention: The Mediating Role of Materialism.

The present set of studies aimed to explore the effect of self-esteem on corrupt intention and the mediating role of materialism in generating this effect. In Study 1, we used questionnaires to investigate the correlation among self-esteem, materialism, and corrupt intention. In Study 2, we manipulated self-esteem to explore the causal effect of self-esteem on materialism and corrupt intention. In Study 3, we manipulated materialism to examine whether inducing materialism can reduce the relationship between self-esteem and corrupt intention. The three studies converged to show that increased self-esteem caused a low level of materialism, which in turn decreased corrupt intention. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.

Working for the Hierarchical System: The Role of Meritocratic Ideology in the Endorsement of Corruption

Corruption has a wide range of corrosive effects on societies, but it is widespread throughout the world. There is a question, however, as to whether corruption is endorsed as an outcome of a legitimate hierarchy and meritocracy. To address this issue, the present study examines the associations between meritocratic ideology and the indicators of corruption by performing two empirical studies with correlational and experimental designs. In Study 1, all variables were measured with scales, and the results demonstrated that meritocratic ideologies were negatively associated with corruption perception but positively associated with corrupt intention. In Study 2, meritocratic ideology was manipulated, and the results demonstrated that compared with the low meritocratic‐ideology condition, the participants primed by the high meritocratic‐ideology condition reported a lower corruption perception but higher corrupt intention. In both studies, the findings suggest that the meritocratic ideology that motivates people to maintain and bolster the current hierarchical structure and meritocracy leads to the endorsement of corruption. The present study explores the roles of meritocratic ideology in the perception and intention of corruption, extends the scope of the predictive power of system justification theory to corruption beyond mere injustice‐related aspects of disadvantage, and also provides suggestions for interpreting and fighting against corruption.

Does the Dark Triad of Personality Predict Corrupt Intention? The Mediating Role of Belief in Good Luck.

The current study is the first attempt to examine the association between the Dark Triad of personality (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) and corruption through a mediator—belief in good luck. Based on Ajzen's theory of planned behavior, we assumed that individuals with Dark Triad would be more likely to engage in corruption as a result of belief in good luck. In Study 1, a set of hypothetical scenarios was used to assess the bribe-offering intention and the corresponding belief in good luck. Results indicated that while the Dark Triad of personality positively predicted bribe-offering intention, it was mediated by the belief in good luck in gain-seeking. In Study 2, we presented participants with some hypothetical scenarios of bribe-taking and the corresponding belief in good luck. Findings revealed that the Dark Triad of personality was positively related to bribe-taking intention; the relationship between narcissism and bribe-taking intention, and that between psychopathy and bribe-taking intention was mediated by the belief in good luck in penalty-avoidance. However, this belief in good luck did not mediate the relationship between Machiavellianism and bribe-taking intention. These results hold while controlling for demographic variables, dispositional optimism, and self-efficacy. Taken together, this study extended previous research by providing evidence that belief in good luck may be one of the reasons explaining why people with Dark Triad are more likely to engage in corruption regardless of the potential outcomes. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

Absolute power leads to absolute corruption? Impact of power on corruption depending on the concepts of power one holds

AbstractPower has long been linked to the stigma of corruption. Three studies indicated that different power concepts have different implications for corruption behavior and perception. The personalized power concept relates to using power to pursue self‐centered goals for one's own benefit, whereas the socialized power concept relates to using power to pursue other‐focused goals for benefiting and helping others. Three studies were conducted to explore the effect of these two types of power concepts on corrupt intention or practice. The power concepts were measured in Study 1, primed through previous experience in Study 2, and utilized within a specific context in Study 3, respectively. Taken together, the three studies indicate that the personalized (vs. socialized) power concept increases (vs. decreases) self‐interested behavior and tolerance towards others' (especially high‐position others') corrupt practices.

J.P. Morgan Recruitment Practices in China and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Legal Networking or Illegal Bribery?

This article examined J.P. Morgan Chase and Company (J.P. Morgan) and its recruitment practices in China pursuant to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Certain key elements of the statute were explicated and illus- trated in the context of the bank's hiring in China. The article found that J.P. Morgan has an arguable defense to legal li- ability based on the lack of evidence that the bank acted with the requisite corrupt intent. The article also provided an examination of the morality of J.P. Morgan's recruitment practices pursuant to three ethical theories. It was found that the bank was acting morally pursuant to Utilitarianism and Ethical Relativism, but immorally under Kantian ethics. The arti- cle supplied general recommendations for companies and specific ones to J.P. Morgan to avoid liability pursuant to the FCPA.

The correlation between corporate governance and market value: regime or signal?

Purpose – As literatures argue that managers’ personalities will affect both corporate governance structures and corporate performance, the correlation between them is a mixed result. The purpose of this paper is to separate different routes leading to the mixed correlation, and name the separated routes as regime effect and signal effect. Design/methodology/approach – By theoretical analysis, the authors list three routes leading to the correlation between corporate governance and corporate performance. Routes 1 and 2 show that governance can directly and indirectly change the performance; while route 3 shows that both the governance and performance are results of managers’ personalities, and the governance has no influence onto the performance, which means the correlation led by route 3 is fake. By design a new econometric methodology, this paper separates the mixed correlation between corporate governance and performance, and names the correlation led by routes 1 and 2 as the regime effect and the correlation led by route 3 as signal effect. Findings – By an empirical research on Chinese listed corporates, the authors find that the correlations between Chinese listed corporates’ market value and main corporate governance factors can be separated into regime effects and signal effects; and the authors also find that some factors (Share of Institutional Investors, Share of Real Controller and the Squared, Dummy of Identical CEO and Chairman, Ownership Concentration) only show regime effects, some factors (Separating Extent of Ownership and Controlling Right, Dummy of Provincial State-Owned Firms) only show signal effects, and some factors (Dummy of Republic State-Owned Firms, Scale of Board) show both. What’s more, the authors find out an interesting result that the state-owning has no negative regime effect on China SOEs’ performance but very significantly negative signal effect; in this paper, the authors suggest that this means the key negative factors of Chinese SOEs is not state-owning ownership structure but the managers’ corruption. Practical implications – As only the factors with regime effects can directly and indirectly affect corporates’ performance and the factors with signal effects show that there’re some managers’ personalities affecting both the governance and performance, the separation method in this paper can help shareholders knowing which governance factors will be helpful to improve the performance and which others will show managers’ hard-working or corruption intention. Originality/value – Separate the regime effect and the signal effect from the correlation between corporate governance and performance.

Effects of social dominance orientation and right-wing authoritarianism on corrupt intention: The role of moral outrage.

Previous research suggested that dominance orientation and authoritarianism may be associated with corruption, but little research has verified this assumption or uncovered its psychological processes. In this article, we examined empirically the relationships between social dominance orientation (SDO), right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) and corrupt intention and explored the mediating role of moral outrage on these relationships. A total of 677 college students participated in the study and completed measures of SDO, RWA, moral outrage and corrupt intention. Our findings demonstrated that both SDO and RWA were positively associated with corrupt intention. Additionally, moral outrage partially mediated the relation between SDO and corrupt intention and fully mediated the relation between RWA and corrupt intention. Specifically, the results indicated that higher SDO or RWA was associated with reduced moral outrage and increased corrupt intention. This implies that the enhancement of morality and moral outrage may inhibit corrupt intention.

The Relationship between Religious Orientation, Moral Integrity, Personality, Organizational Climate and Anti Corruption Intentions in Indonesia

Indonesia is a religion and strongly implemented their religion belief value on their everyday life. However, the issue of corruption in Indonesia is increasingly happening and should receive special attention. It shows that the corruptions behavior did not implement what being teach in their religion. Furthermore, the data show that corruption also involves the people who are in government institution. The objective of this study is to see how the religious orientation, personality, moral integrity, organizational climate can affect the intentions of the anti - corruptions behavior. The study involved 203 Civil Servants in the Ministry of Religion Affairs in Indonesia as a representative population from government institutions. They were administered a set of scales. Each scale is made on a 4-point Likert rating scale (range from strongly agree to strongly disagree). By using SPSS software and LISRELL, multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the research hypotheses. The result of this research shows that all independent variables did bring impact to dependent variable.

Culture of Corruption? The Effects of Priming Corruption Images in a High Corruption Context

We examine what situational cues may influence corruption intentions of individuals in a high corruption context. We primed Brazilian participants with images related to corruption, but with different behavioral connotations (either images suggesting political corruption or images of a Malandro, a powerless antihero who blurs moral boundaries by breaking the law to survive). Corruption intentions increased in Studies 1 and 2 when individuals were primed with political corruption images, compared with a control condition. In Study 2, Brazilians who strongly identified with their country were more likely to endorse corruption scenarios, particularly when primed with Malandro images due to the dual activation of positive national symbols and morally ambiguous connotations. These findings highlight that conceptually related symbols within a cultural system can be linked to differential behavioral patterns. We outline some implications for corruption and cultural research, in particular, the need to study intracultural variability of psychological processes.

A Statutory Element in Exile: The Crucial 'Corrupt Intent' Element in Federal Bribery Laws

This article focuses on the word corruptly found in many bribery statutes, including 18 U.S.C. § 201. I argue that the adverb constitutes an independent element of the crime, and its presence requires the jury to summon its moral intuition to determine whether the behavior that satisfies the other elements of the statutory crime was performed with evil intent. I pay special attention to the problem of campaign contributions as bribes.It is unfortunate that many courts have effectively read the word corruptly out of the statute. The culprit is the Supreme Court’s opinion in Sun-Diamond. In that case, the Court distinguished bribery from illegal gratuities, and explained that the difference between the two was that bribery entailed a specific quid pro quo agreement. I argue that the Sun-Diamond Court’s silence on the corrupt intent element does not mean that the corrupt intent element is satisfied by the mere existence of a quid pro quo.Instead, I focus on the Supreme Court’s stated preference in Sun-Diamond and Skilling that federal anti-corruption laws should be narrowly construed. Bribery laws must be read narrowly because they threaten to capture a great deal of benign political activity, such as logrolling, vote-trading, and campaign contributions by special interest groups. The corrupt intent element functions to effectively narrow these potentially overinclusive anti-corruption laws by requiring the jury to find that the defendant acted with an evil mind. Although the precise contours of moral corruption will vary case-by-case, the corrupt intent element requires prosecutors to argue a theory of why a given quid pro quo was corrupt and therefore illegal. To add more meat to the bones of corrupt intent, I make a brief detour through political theory to note how one’s political philosophy will affect one’s determination of whether a given quid pro quo (especially one involving a campaign contribution) is corrupt. I also explain that because bribery is effectively a lesser-included offense of Hobbs Act extortion and honest services mail or wire fraud, the corrupt intent element should carry over into these crimes.

Belief in a just world lowers perceived intention of corruption: the mediating role of perceived punishment.

Corruption can be unfair and detrimental to societies; however, little is known regarding how individuals perceive corruption. We aim to understand how psychological factors, such as lay belief of the world, influence perceived intention of corruptive behavior. As corruption undermines justice, we hypothesize that belief in a just world to others (BJW-others) reduces perceived intention of corruptive behaviors. We conducted two correlational studies and one experimental study in China. Using hypothetical scenarios, perception toward bribery taking and nepotistic practices were assessed. In Study 1 and Study 2, we consistently found that BJW-others negatively predicted perceived intention of corruption, and this pattern was mediated by perceived likelihood of punishment. We further replicate this result in Study 3 by priming BJW-others, demonstrating its causal effect. The results indicate that BJW as one lay belief can be important in influencing people’s attitudes toward corruption. Implications for future research and anti-corruption policies are also discussed.

DOJ and the SEC issue much‐anticipated FCPA guidance

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain the joint guidance on the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA or the Act) published on November 14, 2012 by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).Design/methodology/approachThe paper explains the principal provisions of the Act covered in the joint guidance, where the joint guidance sheds light, and where it leaves uncertainty. Key issues covered are jurisdiction; corrupt intent, knowledge and willfulness; the “business purpose” test; gifts, travel and entertainment expenses; charitable contributions; definitions of foreign officials and instrumentalities; third parties; facilitating payments; extortion/duress; successor liability; accounting provisions; compliance programs; compliance monitors; and prosecution, resolution and declination decisions.FindingsWhile it is unprecedented in federal law enforcement that the DOJ and SEC have provided the public with such detailed information on their joint FCPA enforcement approach and priorities, the guidance does not break new ground and generally reaffirms positions the agencies have previously espoused in other contexts. The guidance leaves open some difficult issues facing compliance officers and practitioners.Originality/valueThe paper provides expert guidance by experienced financial services lawyers.

Work-Related Behavioral Intentions in Macedonia: Coping Strategies, Work Environment, Love of Money, Job Satisfaction, and Demographic Variables

Based on theory of planned behavior, we develop a theoretical model involving love of money (LOM), job satisfaction (attitude), coping strategies/responses (perceived behavioral control), work environment (subjective norm), and work-related behavioral intentions (behavioral intention). We tested this model using job satisfaction as a mediator and sector (public versus private), personal character (good apples versus bad apples), gender, and income as moderators in a sample of 515 employees and their managers in the Republic of Macedonia. For the whole sample, both coping strategies and helpful work environment were related to high job satisfaction. The relationship between work environment and job satisfaction was the strongest link in all subsequent analyses. High LOM is associated with unfavorable work environment for employees in the private sectors and people with low income and is positively associated with coping strategies for bad apples. A favorable work environment was related to less corrupt intent for people in the public sectors, good apples, and with low income, but not for their counterparts. Coping strategies were related to high job satisfaction for males, but not for females. Our counterintuitive results showed that bad apples’ high LOM was related to low corrupt intent. Our theoretical model sheds new light and provides novel theoretical, empirical, and practical implications to Macedonian managers’ corrupt intent.