Does moral commitment predict resistance to corruption? experimental evidence from a bribery game

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Economics
• Organizational Psychology
• Ethics

Background:

• Corruption poses significant risks to organizations and society.
• Understanding individual-level factors influencing corrupt behavior is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of moral commitment, specifically integrity endorsement and Honesty-Humility, in deterring corrupt behavior.
• To examine whether individuals prioritize integrity over financial gains when faced with corrupt opportunities.

Main Methods:

• A two-step laboratory experiment was conducted to simulate corrupt scenarios.
• Participants' willingness to accept bribes and engage in bribe-giving was measured.
• The study controlled for demographic variables and personal characteristics like risk tolerance and greed.

Main Results:

• Individuals who view integrity as a protected value were less willing to accept bribes.
• Higher levels of Honesty-Humility were associated with a decreased propensity for bribe-giving.
• These findings remained robust across various demographic and personal characteristic controls.

Conclusions:

• Moral commitment, operationalized as integrity endorsement and Honesty-Humility, significantly deters corrupt behavior.
• Individuals can forgo financial incentives when their moral values, particularly integrity, are challenged.
• Findings offer valuable insights for theory development and practical strategies to combat organizational corruption.