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The ethical mirage: A temporal explanation as to why we are not as ethical as we think we are

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tenbrunsel, AE; Diekmann, KA; Wade-Benzoni, KA; Bazerman, MH
Published in: Research in Organizational Behavior
September 24, 2010

This paper explores the biased perceptions that people hold of their own ethicality. We argue that the temporal trichotomy of prediction, action and recollection is central to these misperceptions: People predict that they will behave more ethically than they actually do, and when evaluating past (un)ethical behavior, they believe they behaved more ethically than they actually did. We use the "want/should" theoretical framework to explain the bounded ethicality that arises from these temporal inconsistencies, positing that the "should" self dominates during the prediction and recollection phases but that the "want" self is dominant during the critical action phase. We draw on the research on behavioral forecasting, ethical fading, and cognitive distortions to gain insight into the forces driving these faulty perceptions and, noting how these misperceptions can lead to continued unethical behavior, we provide recommendations for how to reduce them. We also include a call for future research to better understand this phenomenon. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.

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Published In

Research in Organizational Behavior

DOI

ISSN

0191-3085

Publication Date

September 24, 2010

Volume

30

Issue

C

Start / End Page

153 / 173

Related Subject Headings

  • Business & Management
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour
  • 3505 Human resources and industrial relations
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1503 Business and Management
 

Citation

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Tenbrunsel, A. E., Diekmann, K. A., Wade-Benzoni, K. A., & Bazerman, M. H. (2010). The ethical mirage: A temporal explanation as to why we are not as ethical as we think we are. Research in Organizational Behavior, 30(C), 153–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.riob.2010.08.004
Tenbrunsel, A. E., K. A. Diekmann, K. A. Wade-Benzoni, and M. H. Bazerman. “The ethical mirage: A temporal explanation as to why we are not as ethical as we think we are.” Research in Organizational Behavior 30, no. C (September 24, 2010): 153–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.riob.2010.08.004.
Tenbrunsel AE, Diekmann KA, Wade-Benzoni KA, Bazerman MH. The ethical mirage: A temporal explanation as to why we are not as ethical as we think we are. Research in Organizational Behavior. 2010 Sep 24;30(C):153–73.
Tenbrunsel, A. E., et al. “The ethical mirage: A temporal explanation as to why we are not as ethical as we think we are.” Research in Organizational Behavior, vol. 30, no. C, Sept. 2010, pp. 153–73. Scopus, doi:10.1016/j.riob.2010.08.004.
Tenbrunsel AE, Diekmann KA, Wade-Benzoni KA, Bazerman MH. The ethical mirage: A temporal explanation as to why we are not as ethical as we think we are. Research in Organizational Behavior. 2010 Sep 24;30(C):153–173.
Journal cover image

Published In

Research in Organizational Behavior

DOI

ISSN

0191-3085

Publication Date

September 24, 2010

Volume

30

Issue

C

Start / End Page

153 / 173

Related Subject Headings

  • Business & Management
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour
  • 3505 Human resources and industrial relations
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1503 Business and Management