Cited by 1,159Ethics in Business and EducationJob Satisfaction and Organizational BehaviorPsychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 121 of the 125 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

WHY EMPLOYEES DO BAD THINGS: MORAL DISENGAGEMENT AND UNETHICAL ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

Open access

MOORE, CELIA, DETERT, JAMES R., KLEBE TREVIÑO, LINDA, BAKER, VICKI L., MAYER, DAVID M.·2012·Personnel Psychology

DOI 10.1111/j.1744-6570.2011.01237.x

Open this paper in CoChat — free account Open PDF

Abstract

We examine the influence of individuals’ propensity to morally disengage on a broad range of unethical organizational behaviors. First, we develop a parsimonious, adult‐oriented, valid, and reliable measure of an individual's propensity to morally disengage, and demonstrate the relationship between it and a number of theoretically relevant constructs in its nomological network. Then, in 4 additional studies spanning laboratory and field settings, we demonstrate the power of the propensity to moral disengage to predict multiple types of unethical organizational behavior. In these studies we demonstrate that the propensity to morally disengage predicts several outcomes (self‐reported unethical behavior, a decision to commit fraud, a self‐serving decision in the workplace, and supervisor‐ and coworker‐reported unethical work behaviors) beyond other established individual difference antecedents of unethical organizational behavior, as well as the most closely related extant measure of the construct. We conclude that scholars and practitioners seeking to understand a broad range of undesirable workplace behaviors can benefit from taking an individual's propensity to morally disengage into account. Implications for theory, research, and practice are discussed.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1111/j.1744-6570.2011.01237.x

Cites

121 of 121 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives
Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999) · Structural Equation Modeling A Multidisciplinary Journal · doi:10.1080/10705519909540118 · Cited by 108,788
Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling
Tabri, N., & Elliott, C. M. (2012) · Canadian Graduate Journal of Sociology and Criminology · doi:10.15353/cgjsc.v1i1.3787 · Cited by 39,094
Untitled work
(1998) · Cited by 36,049
Alternative Ways of Assessing Model Fit
Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1992) · Sociological Methods & Research · doi:10.1177/0049124192021002005 · Cited by 27,200
Untitled work
(1985) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 19,180
Evaluating Goodness-of-Fit Indexes for Testing Measurement Invariance
Cheung, G. W., & Rensvold, R. B. (2002) · Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal · doi:10.1207/s15328007sem0902_5 · Cited by 16,280
Untitled work
(1991) · Cited by 15,554
Testing Structural Equation Models.
Mueller, C. W., Bollen, K. A., & Long, J. S. (1994) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/2074955 · Cited by 14,211
Scale Development: Theory and Applications.
Xie, Y.-P., & Devellis, R. (1992) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/2075704 · Cited by 14,143
Construct validity in psychological tests.
Cronbach, L. J., & Meehl, P. E. (1955) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/h0040957 · Cited by 11,195

Show all 125 references

Research works printed but not linked: 13

Bandura A, 1990, Origins of terrorism: Psychologies, ideologies, states of mind, 161
Brief AP, 2001, Groups at work: Theory and research, 471
10.1037/0022-3514.33.5.497 · DOI
Duffy MK, 2005, Moral disengagement and social identification: When does being similar result in harm doing?
Duffy MK, 2002, Moral disengagement and antisocial behavior at work
Gross E, 1978, Organizational crime: A theoretical perspective, Studies in Symbolic Interaction, 1, 55
10.1007/s10551-007-9447-8 · DOI
Rest JR, 1990, DIT manual
Schwab DP, 1980, Construct validity in organizational behavior, Research in Organizational Behavior, 2, 3
10.1037/0022-3514.59.1.102 · DOI · Paper page
10.2307/258313 · DOI
Treviño LK, 2008, Motivated moral disengagement: Dispositional and situational influences on ethical reasoning and behavior
U.S. Internal Revenue Service, 2010, Information reporting program advisory committee: Tax gap subgroup report

Sorted by citations

Items 301–400 of 999

When do the ‘dark personalities’ become less counterproductive? The moderating role of job control and social support
Baka, Ł. (2018) · International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/10803548.2018.1463670 · Cited by 21
The Role of Strategic Ambiguity in Moral Injury: A Case Study of Dutch Border Guards Facing Moral Challenges
Kalkman, J. P., & Molendijk, T. (2019) · Journal of Management Inquiry · doi:10.1177/1056492619892693 · Cited by 22
The Two-Sided Effect of Leader Unethical Pro-organizational Behaviors on Subordinates’ Behaviors: A Mediated Moderation Model
Wen, P. P., Cheng, C., Chen, S., & Cao, Y. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.572455 · Cited by 21
Does corporate social responsibility mediate the relationship between board diversity and financial distress: evidence from an emerging economy?
Farooq, M. U., Khan, I., Aljabri, Q., & Khan, M. T. (2023) · Corporate Governance · doi:10.1108/cg-05-2023-0210 · Cited by 21
Dark Personality Traits and Counterproductive Work Behavior: A PRISMA Systematic Review
Duradoni, M., Gursesli, M. C., Martucci, A., Ayarza, I. Y. G., Colombini, G., & Guazzini, A. (2023) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.1177/00332941231219921 · Cited by 27
Cognitive approach to understand the impact of conflict of interests on accounting professionals’ decision-making behaviour
Ishaque, M. (2019) · Accounting Forum · doi:10.1080/01559982.2019.1583303 · Cited by 23
Personal and Environmental Predictors of Aggression in Adolescence
Haydar, C. A. R., Martínez–González, M. B., Flórez, Y., Navarro, L., & Amar-Amar, J. J. (2021) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci11070933 · Cited by 21
Impact of Interpersonal Competition on Knowledge Hiding Behavior Among the Employees: Mediating Role of Moral Disengagement and Work Overload
Wang, Y. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.881220 · Cited by 20
The Mixed Blessing of Leaders’ Artificial Intelligence (AI)-oriented Change Behavior: Implications for Employee Job Performance and Unethical Behavior
He, G., Zheng, X., Li, W., Tan, L., Chen, S., & He, Y. (2023) · Applied Research in Quality of Life · doi:10.1007/s11482-023-10250-4 · Cited by 20
Development and preliminary validation of a scale of driving moral disengagement as a tool in the exploration of driving aggression
Swann, A., Lennon, A., & Cleary, J. (2017) · Transportation Research Part F Traffic Psychology and Behaviour · doi:10.1016/j.trf.2017.01.011 · Cited by 20
Gender-based differences in the impact of Dark Triad traits on academic dishonesty: The mediating role of moral disengagement in college students
Lingán-Huamán, S. K., Domínguez-Lara, S., & Esteban, R. F. C. (2023) · Heliyon · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23322 · Cited by 24
Vandalism-Militancy Relationship: The Influence of Risk Perception and Moral Disengagement
Mafimisebi, O. P., & Thorne, S. (2017) · International Journal of Mass Emergencies & Disasters · doi:10.1177/028072701703500305 · Cited by 20
The role of the dark triad in perceptions of academic incivility
Turnipseed, D. L., & Landay, K. (2018) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2018.07.029 · Cited by 20
Psychometric properties of a Cyberbullying Inventory for university students
Tanrıkulu, İ., & Erdur‐Baker, Ö. (2020) · British Journal of Guidance and Counselling · doi:10.1080/03069885.2020.1775174 · Cited by 23
Honesty‐Humility and unethical behavior in adolescents: The mediating role of moral disengagement and the moderating role of system justification☆
Guo, Z., Li, W., Yang, Y., & Kou, Y. (2021) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.05.009 · Cited by 20
For whom does deterrence affect behavior? Identifying key individual differences.
Fine, A., & van Rooij, B. (2017) · Law and Human Behavior · doi:10.1037/lhb0000246 · Cited by 20
Breaking bad: A model of expatriate managerial misbehavior
Ljubica, J., Shaffer, M. A., & Baker, C. M. (2023) · Applied Psychology · doi:10.1111/apps.12512 · Cited by 19
Contributions of the dark triad to moral disengagement among incarcerated and community adults
Navas, M. P., Maneiro, L., Cutrín, O., Fraguela, J. A. G., & Sobral, J. (2021) · Legal and Criminological Psychology · doi:10.1111/lcrp.12190 · Cited by 22
Corruption tolerance as a process of moral, social, and political cognition: evidence from Latin America
Alvarez, J. P. (2021) · Crime Law and Social Change · doi:10.1007/s10611-021-09995-6 · Cited by 19
Paraphilic Interests Versus Behaviors: Factors that Distinguish Individuals Who Act on Paraphilic Interests From Individuals Who Refrain
Molen, L. V., Ronis, S. T., & Benoit, A. A. (2022) · Sexual Abuse · doi:10.1177/10790632221108949 · Cited by 19
A Virtual Net Locks Me In: How and When Information and Communication Technology Use Intensity Leads to Knowledge Hiding
Zhang, Z., & Ji, X. (2022) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-022-05245-4 · Cited by 20
Leaders’ knowledge hiding and front-line employee service sabotage
Zulfiqar, S., Garavan, T. N., Huo, C., Akhtar, M. W., & Sarwar, B. (2023) · Service Industries Journal · doi:10.1080/02642069.2023.2180499 · Cited by 19
All by myself: examining social media’s effect on social withdrawal and the mediating roles of moral disengagement and cyberaggression
Tan, C. S. L. (2023) · European Journal of Marketing · doi:10.1108/ejm-12-2022-0932 · Cited by 25
Understanding Disrespectful Tourist Behavior Through Tourists’ Stereotyped Perceptions
Im, A. Y., & Kim, D.-Y. (2023) · Journal of Travel Research · doi:10.1177/00472875231209978 · Cited by 20
Family matters! Antecedents and boundary conditions of unethical pro-family behaviors
Wang, J., Chen, C.-C., Shen, T., Fan, F., Fosh, P., & Guo, Y. (2023) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114444 · Cited by 21
Employee Moral Disengagement in Response to Stressful Information Security Requirements: A Methodological Replication of a Coping-Based Model
D’Arcy, J., Herath, T. C., Yim, M.-S., Nam, K.-C., & Rao, H. R. (2018) · AIS Transactions on Replication Research · doi:10.17705/1atrr.00028 · Cited by 19
The effects of leader behavior on follower ethical behavior: Examining the mediating roles of ethical efficacy and moral disengagement
Palmer, N. F. (2013) · Lincoln (University of Nebraska) · Cited by 19
The Effects of Moral Emotional Traits on Workplace Bullying Perpetration
Jacobson, R. P., Hood, J. N., & Jacobson, K. J. L. (2016) · Ethics & Behavior · doi:10.1080/10508422.2016.1182026 · Cited by 22
Beware of organizational saints: how a moral self-concept may foster immoral behavior
Ashforth, B. E., & Lange, D. A. (2016) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781316338827.012 · Cited by 19
Self-defence against carbon footprint evidence: How employees of destination management and marketing organisations cope with conflicting environmental and economic data
Delgado, A. T., Font, X., & Oliver‐Solà, J. (2024) · Annals of Tourism Research · doi:10.1016/j.annals.2023.103722 · Cited by 18
Impacts of Workplace Culture on Deviant Workplace Behavior: A Systematic Review
bin Bujang, M. A., Kamaluddin, M. R., Basir, S. M., Munusamy, S., & Jiow, H. J. (2024) · SAGE Open · doi:10.1177/21582440241247976 · Cited by 23
Understanding AIgiarism in higher education: the lens of general AI attitudes and moral disengagement
Waqas, M., Hania, A., & Chunyan, X. U. (2025) · Studies in Higher Education · doi:10.1080/03075079.2025.2497479 · Cited by 21
Development and Validation of the Ethnic Moral Disengagement Scale
Cricchio, M. G. L., Stefanelli, F., Palladino, B. E., Paciello, M., & Menesini, E. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.756350 · Cited by 21
Being ethically resilient during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study of Indian supply chain companies
Verma, S., Garg, N., & Arumugam, T. (2022) · The International Journal of Logistics Management · doi:10.1108/ijlm-05-2022-0203 · Cited by 21
Dark triad and cyber aggression among Chinese adolescents during COVID-19: A moderated mediation model
Zhang, Z., Bian, S., Zhao, H. M., & Qi, C. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1011123 · Cited by 21
Longitudinal relations among Honesty-Humility, moral disengagement, and unethical behavior in adolescents: A between- and within-person analysis
Guo, Z., Yang, Y., Li, W., Yao, X., & Kou, Y. (2023) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2023.104401 · Cited by 18
Toward Understanding Employees 'Responses to Leaders' Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior: An Outcome Favorability Perspective
Cai, Y., Wang, H., Schuh, S. C., Li, J., & Zheng, W. (2023) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-023-05535-5 · Cited by 21
The effect of formalism on unethical decision making: The mediating effect of moral disengagement and moderating effect of moral attentiveness
Dong, R., Lu, T., Hu, Q., & Ni, S. (2020) · Business Ethics the Environment & Responsibility · doi:10.1111/beer.12315 · Cited by 20
The grey zone between tactics and manipulation: The normalization of match-fixing in road cycling
Hoeven, S. V. D., Constandt, B., Schyvinck, C., Lagae, W., & Willem, A. (2021) · International Review for the Sociology of Sport · doi:10.1177/10126902211038414 · Cited by 18
Distilling the Antecedents and Enabling Dynamics of Leader Moral Courage: A Framework to Guide Action
Hutchinson, M., Jackson, D. W., Daly, J., & Usher, K. J. (2015) · Issues in Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.3109/01612840.2015.1017627 · Cited by 18
Making Professional Decisions in Research: Measurement and Key Predictors
Antes, A. L., Chibnall, J. T., Baldwin, K. A., Tait, R. C., Wal, J. S. V., & DuBois, J. M. (2016) · Accountability in Research · doi:10.1080/08989621.2016.1171149 · Cited by 22
Religion’s influence on consumer response to moral vs. justice message appeals
Minton, E. A., Leary, R. B., & Upadhyaya, S. N. (2018) · International Journal of Consumer Studies · doi:10.1111/ijcs.12453 · Cited by 18
Behavioral Ethics Meets Behavioral Law and Economics
Feldman, Y. (2014) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199945474.013.0009 · Cited by 19
Ramifications of leaders' unethical pro‐organizational behavior on employees: Dual‐stage moderation of ethical mindset
Cai, Y., Zheng, W., Schuh, S. C., & Lin, X. (2024) · Journal of Organizational Behavior · doi:10.1002/job.2817 · Cited by 17
Abusive Supervision and Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior: The Mediating Role of Status Challenge and the Moderating Role of Leader–Member Exchange
Xiong, G., Huang, H., Ma, Y., Liang, C., & Wang, H. (2021) · SAGE Open · doi:10.1177/21582440211033560 · Cited by 17
The Paradoxical Effects of the Contagion of Service-Oriented Organizational Citizenship Behavior
Guo, G., Jia, Y., Mu, W., & Wang, T. (2022) · Psychology Research and Behavior Management · doi:10.2147/prbm.s341068 · Cited by 19
Breaking bad behaviour: understanding negative film tourist behaviour through moral disengagement
Jørgensen, T., & Reichenberger, I. (2022) · Current Issues in Tourism · doi:10.1080/13683500.2022.2051447 · Cited by 17
Moral disengagement in the media discourses on meat and dairy production systems
Schüßler, C., Nicolai, S., Stoll‐Kleemann, S., & Bartkowski, B. (2024) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2024.107269 · Cited by 17
Exploring tourists’ pro-environmental behavior: a bibliometric analysis over two decades (1999–2023)
Carvajal-Trujillo, E., Gálvez, J. C. P., & Orts-Cardador, J. J. (2024) · Journal of Tourism Futures · doi:10.1108/jtf-02-2024-0033 · Cited by 22
The Role of Ethical Climate and Moral Disengagement in Well-Intended Employee Rule Breaking
Baskin, M. E. B., Vardaman, J. M., & Hancock, J. I. (2016) · Journal of Behavioral and Applied Management · doi:10.21818/001c.1159 · Cited by 17
PARTICIPATION MOTIVES, MORAL DISENGAGEMENT, AND UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR IN IDEA COMPETITIONS
Scheiner, C. W., Baccarella, C. V., Bessant, J., & Voigt, K. (2017) · International Journal of Innovation Management · doi:10.1142/s1363919618500433 · Cited by 17
Delegation of Decision Rights and Misreporting: The Roles of Incentive-based Compensation Schemes and Responsibility Rationalization
Chong, V. K., & Wang, I. Z. (2018) · European Accounting Review · doi:10.1080/09638180.2018.1452771 · Cited by 17
Social Psychology of Organizations
Flood, F. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_3059-1 · Cited by 17
Aggression in online gaming: the role of online disinhibition, social dominance orientation, moral disengagement and gender traits among Chinese university students
Gan, W., Chen, Z., Wu, Z., Huang, X., & Wang, F. (2024) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1459696 · Cited by 24
Working with robots makes service employees counterproductive? The role of moral disengagement and task interdependence
Tan, L., & Li, J. (2025) · Tourism Management · doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2025.105233 · Cited by 16
Fight or Flight: How Advertising for Air Travel Triggers Moral Disengagement
Stubenvoll, M., & Neureiter, A. (2021) · Environmental Communication · doi:10.1080/17524032.2021.1899956 · Cited by 16
Impact of employees’ perceived threat of market competition on unethical marketing and selling practices: Moral disengagement and ethical leadership
Khan, S., Khan, A. K., Shah, A. M., Ali, L., & Ullah, R. (2021) · Business Ethics the Environment & Responsibility · doi:10.1111/beer.12367 · Cited by 16
Exosoul: Ethical Profiling in the Digital World
Alfieri, C., Inverardi, P., Migliarini, P., & Palmiero, M. (2022) · Frontiers in artificial intelligence and applications · doi:10.3233/faia220194 · Cited by 17
Examining the role of moral, emotional, behavioural, and personality factors in predicting online shaming
Muir, S., Roberts, L. D., Sheridan, L. P., & Coleman, A. R. (2023) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0279750 · Cited by 27
The influence of supervisor bottom-line mentality on knowledge territorial behavior and knowledge sabotage behavior
Tan, Z., Yuan, L., & Wan, Q. (2024) · Journal of Knowledge Management · doi:10.1108/jkm-03-2023-0204 · Cited by 19
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
Moore, C., & Tenbrunsel, A. E. (2013) · Cited by 16
Self-citation
Moral disengagement mechanisms and its relationship with aggression and bullying behaviour among school children and youth at psychosocial risk
Tabares, Á. S. G., & Landínez-Martínez, D. (2021) · Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties · doi:10.1080/13632752.2021.1945801 · Cited by 20
Forensic Diagnosis and Transformation of an Organizational Culture
Armenakis, A. A., & Lang, I. M. (2013) · Journal of Change Management · doi:10.1080/14697017.2013.843577 · Cited by 16
The Unwitting Accomplice: How Organizations Enable Motivated Reasoning and Self-Serving Behavior
Noval, L. J., & Hernandez, M. (2017) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-017-3698-9 · Cited by 17
Mitos no Desengajamento Moral: Retóricas da Samarco em um Crime Corporativo
Medeiros, C. R. D. O., Alcadipani, R., & de Oliveira, L. B. (2017) · Revista de Administração Contemporânea · doi:10.1590/1982-7849rac2018160310 · Cited by 18
Why Are Men More Likely to Endorse Myths About Child Sexual Abuse Than Women? Evidence From Disposition and Situation-Based Approaches
Magalhães, E., Graça, J., Antunes, C., Ferreira, C., & Pinheiro, M. (2021) · Child Maltreatment · doi:10.1177/1077559520988353 · Cited by 15
License to Retaliate: Good Deeds as a Moral License for Misdeeds in Reaction to Abusive Supervision
Liang, L.-D. H., Coulombe, C., Skyvington, S., Brown, D. J., Ferris, D. L., & Lian, H.-W. (2022) · Human Performance · doi:10.1080/08959285.2022.2032069 · Cited by 15
How do compulsory citizenship behaviors affect moral disengagement in organizations? Significance of anger toward the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic
Yıldız, B., Yıldız, H., & Özbilgin, M. F. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1038860 · Cited by 17
Differentiating the Effects of Power and Status on Unethical Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Meta-Analysis
Zhang, C., & Wei, X. (2023) · Journal of Business and Psychology · doi:10.1007/s10869-023-09919-2 · Cited by 16
Why “Good” Followers Go “Bad”: The Power of Moral Disengagement
Johnson, C. E. (2014) · Journal of Leadership Education · doi:10.12806/v13/i4/c6 · Cited by 15
Behavioral Business Ethics: The Journey from Foundations to Future
Kish-Gephart, J. J., Treviño, L. K., Chen, A., & Tilton, J. (2019) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/s2514-175920190000003001 · Cited by 16
Unethical, neurotic, or both? A psychoanalytic account of ethical failures within organizations
de Colle, S., & Freeman, R. E. (2019) · Business Ethics A European Review · doi:10.1111/beer.12239 · Cited by 16
Religious and secular roads to justify wrongdoing: How values interact with culture in explaining moral disengagement attitudes
Sverdlik, N., & Rechter, E. (2020) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2020.103981 · Cited by 17
Morality in the flesh: on the link between bodily self-consciousness, moral identity and (dis)honest behaviour
Scattolin, M., Panasiti, M. S., & Aglioti, S. M. (2022) · Royal Society Open Science · doi:10.1098/rsos.220061 · Cited by 15
Holding Others in Contempt: the Moderating Role of Power in the Relationship Between Leaders’ Contempt and their Behavior Vis-à-vis Employees
Sanders, S., Wisse, B. M., & Yperen, N. W. V. (2015) · Business Ethics Quarterly · doi:10.1017/beq.2015.14 · Cited by 15
Self-Regulation Failure? The Influence Mechanism of Leader Reward Omission on Employee Deviant Behavior
Wang, T., Cao, Z., Zhong, X., & Chen, C. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.558293 · Cited by 15
Organisational Culture and Bank RiskPreprint
Suss, J., Bholat, D. M., Gillespie, A., & Reader, T. W. (2021) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3801088 · Cited by 15
Moral (De)coupling: Moral Disengagement and Supply Chain Management
Eriksson, D. (2012) · Borås Academic Digital Archive (University of Borås) · doi:10.13140/2.1.3987.2323 · Cited by 14
AI’s learning paradox: how business students’ engagement with AI amplifies moral disengagement-driven misconduct
Theoharakis, V., Mylonopoulos, N. A., & Papadopoulou, K. (2025) · Studies in Higher Education · doi:10.1080/03075079.2025.2533365 · Cited by 18
How and When Daily Abusive Supervision Affects Daily Organizational Citizenship Behavior for the Environment
Wang, H., & Xiao, J. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.791803 · Cited by 15
On the (number of) aversive traits it takes to approximate the common core of aversive personality
Horsten, L. K., Moshagen, M., & Hilbig, B. E. (2023) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-42115-z · Cited by 14
Why does a leader’s other-oriented perfectionism lead employees to do bad things? Examining the role of moral disengagement and moral identity
Jiang, F., Zhang, W., Zhang, H., & Zhang, Z. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1290233 · Cited by 17
Change or paradox: the double-edged sword effect of organizational crisis on employee behavior
Li, G., Yueying, T., Meng, Y., & Min, L. (2024) · Journal of Organizational Change Management · doi:10.1108/jocm-03-2023-0088 · Cited by 15
Failure to morally self-regulate: deindividuation and moral disengagement from pro-environmental behavioural intentions across tourism and home contexts
Wu, J. S., Font, X., & Liu, J. (2024) · Current Issues in Tourism · doi:10.1080/13683500.2024.2355559 · Cited by 14
Mechanisms of Moral Disengagement in the Endorsement of Asylum Seeker Policies in Australia
Greenhalgh, E. M., Watt, S., & Schutte, N. S. (2014) · Ethics & Behavior · doi:10.1080/10508422.2014.951720 · Cited by 14
A practice-based framework for understanding (informal) play as practice phenomena in organizations
D, M. S. A. B., & Bodolica, V. (2018) · Journal of Management & Organization · doi:10.1017/jmo.2018.30 · Cited by 14
But I Still Feel Guilt: A Test of a Moral Disengagement Propensity Model
Kacmar, K. M., Carlson, D. S., Thompson, M. J., & Zivnuska, S. (2019) · Human Performance · doi:10.1080/08959285.2019.1646746 · Cited by 15
“We’re Just Geeks”: Disciplinary Identifications Among Business Students and Their Implications for Personal Responsibility
Blasco, M. (2021) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-021-04759-7 · Cited by 16
Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior Across the Cultures: A Meta-Analysis of Antecedents From 16 Countries
Mishra, V., Sharma, V., & Verma, D. (2024) · Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology · doi:10.1177/00220221241299048 · Cited by 15
The Paradox of Paranoia: How One’s Own Self-Interested Unethical Behavior Can Spark Paranoia and Reduce Affiliative Behavior Toward Coworkers
Hillebrandt, A., Brady, D. L., Saldanha, M. F., & Barclay, L. J. (2022) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-022-05141-x · Cited by 13
The transforming power of self-forgiveness in the aftermath of wrongdoing
Ong, M. (2023) · Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes · doi:10.1016/j.obhdp.2023.104237 · Cited by 14
Not seeing the (moral) forest for the trees? How task complexity and employees’ expertise affect moral disengagement with discriminatory data analytics recommendations
Ebrahimi, S., & Matt, C. (2023) · Journal of Information Technology · doi:10.1177/02683962231181148 · Cited by 14
The impact of incongruent CSR on time theft: an integration of cognitive and affective mechanisms
Long, X., Wang, L., Cao, Q., & Feng, H. (2023) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-023-04951-0 · Cited by 13
Psychological Entitlement and Moral Disengagement as Antecedents of Compliance with COVID‐19 Workplace Safety Protocols and the Moderating Role of Moral Identity
Sharma, V., Eissa, G., Newman, A., Lester, S. W., & Pandey, J. (2023) · Applied Psychology · doi:10.1111/apps.12496 · Cited by 12
Unintended influence of leader forgiveness: increased employee cyberloafing
Zhang, J., Xie, K., Zhang, Y., & Wang, Y. (2023) · Management Decision · doi:10.1108/md-10-2022-1426 · Cited by 13
Measuring the Dark Core of Personality in Portugal: A Psychometric Examination of D
Pechorro, P. S., Rodrigues, R., Araujo, B. B., DeLisi, M., & Simões, M. R. (2024) · Deviant Behavior · doi:10.1080/01639625.2024.2323538 · Cited by 14
Value co-destruction behavior in peer-to-peer accommodation: evidence of dark triad, moral disengagement, and host incivility
Vasil, M., Chopdar, P. K., Das, S. S., & Buhalis, D. (2025) · Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management · doi:10.1080/19368623.2025.2449870 · Cited by 13
When moral identity harms: The impact of perceived differences in core values on helping and hurting
Gotowiec, S. (2019) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2019.06.032 · Cited by 15
A relativistic approach to moral judgment in individuals: Review and reinterpretation
Mudrack, P. E., & Mason, E. S. (2020) · Business Ethics A European Review · doi:10.1111/beer.12263 · Cited by 13
Corruption experiences and attitudes to political, interpersonal, and domestic violence
Gillanders, R., & van der Werff, L. (2021) · Governance · doi:10.1111/gove.12570 · Cited by 13

Authors: MOORE, C., DETERT, J. R., KLEBE TREVIÑO, L., BAKER, V. L., & MAYER, D. M.
Affiliations: London Business School (GB)
Cornell University (US)
Albion College (US)
University of Michigan (US)
Corresponding author: MOORE, CELIA
ORCID: MOORE, CELIA
DETERT, JAMES R.
BAKER, VICKI L.
MAYER, DAVID M.
Venue: Personnel Psychology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2012-02-27
Volume: 65
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-48
ISSN: 0031-5826 (ISSN-L)
1744-6570
DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-6570.2011.01237.x
OpenAlex: W2119482439
Cited by: 1,159
References: 125
Citations by year: 2026: 140 · 2025: 126 · 2024: 117 · 2023: 139 · 2022: 112 · 2021: 114 · 2020: 90 · 2019: 71 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 45 · 2015: 46 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 7
FWCI: 69.24
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
hdl.handle.net
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Personnel Psychology (publishedVersion)
Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Ethics in Business and Education
Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
Keywords: moral disengagement, individual differences, fraud, self-serving behavior, unethical workplace behavior

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

WHY EMPLOYEES DO BAD THINGS: MORAL DISENGAGEMENT AND UNETHICAL ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Self-check

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks