An Empirical Investigation of the Relationships among a Consumer’s Personal Values, Ethical Ideology and Ethical Beliefs

S. Steenhaut () and P. van Kenhove ()
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P. van Kenhove: -

Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium from Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

Abstract: This study provides an additional partial test of the Hunt-Vitell theory (1986, 1993) within the consumer ethics context. Using structural equation modeling, the relationships among an individual’s personal values (conceptualized by the typology of Schwartz, 1992), ethical ideology and ethical beliefs are investigated. The validity of the model is assessed in a two-step procedure. First, a measurement model of constructs is tested for key validity dimensions. Next, the hypothesized causal relationships are examined in several path models, comparing no mediation, partial and complete mediation effects of ethical ideology. The empirical results indicate that individual differences in value priorities (resultant conservation and resultant selfenhancement) directly and indirectly (through idealism) influence the judgment of ethically questionable consumer practices. These findings may significantly contribute to the theoretical understanding of ethical decision-making.

Keywords: Conservation versus openness to change; Consumer ethics; Ethical beliefs; Ethical decision making; Ethical ideology; Idealism; Lisrel; Personal values; Relativism; Self-enhancement versus self-transcendence; Structural equation modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 41 pages
Date: 2005-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-soc
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:rug:rugwps:05/321

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