When Moral Tension Begets Cognitive Dissonance: An Investigation of Responses to Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior and the Contingent Effect of Construal Level

Na Yang (), Congcong Lin (), Zhenyu Liao () and Mei Xue ()
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Na Yang: Renmin University of China
Congcong Lin: Shandong University
Zhenyu Liao: Northeastern University
Mei Xue: Renmin University of China

Journal of Business Ethics, 2022, vol. 180, issue 1, No 19, 339-353

Abstract: Abstract Research on unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB) has predominantly focused on its antecedents, while overlooking how engaging in such behavior might affect employees’ psychological experience and their downstream work behaviors. Integrating cognitive dissonance theory with the moral identity literature, we argue that engaging in UPB restricts moral identity internalization as a result of attempts to alleviate the cognitive dissonance about moral self-regard, which in turn translates into decreased organizational citizenship behavior and increased counterproductive workplace behavior. Moreover, employees’ construal level weakens these indirect effects by alleviating the negative effect of engaging in UPB on moral identity internalization. The results from one experimental study and one multi-wave, multisource field study provide support for these predictions. Our research extends knowledge on the negative consequences of UPB for actors and organizations.

Keywords: Unethical pro-organizational behavior; Moral identity internalization; Construal level; Organizational citizenship behavior; Counterproductive workplace behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10551-021-04866-5

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