In a basic test of the general social control thesis, this article applies Reckless’ theory of containment to the problem of unethical business behavior. Control theories asserts that what needs to be explored is not why certain individuals engage in deviant acts, but rather what factors in society bring conformity when there are ample opportunities to offend. Containment theory asserts that deviance will occur when controls are weakened to the point of being insufficient to contain motivated behavior in the presence of an unethical opportunity. The theory accounts for the presence of both inner controls (internal to the individual) and outer controls (originating through one’s association with some group or culture), as well as factors that push or pull and individual toward deviant acts. Results indicate that factors of outer containment may be more important to controlling the development of unethical business behavior.