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Do moral disengagers experience guilt following workplace misconduct? Consequences for emotional exhaustion and task performance

Journal: Journal of Organizational Behavior

Date: 2023

Author: Babatunde Ogunfowora, Viet Quan Nguyen, Clara S. Lee, Mayowa T. Babalola, Shuang Ren

Abstract:
According to Bandura, moral disengagement facilitates misconduct by minimizing feelings of guilt that normally arise when one contemplates wrongdoing. While trait moral disengagement has been negatively associated with anticipatory guilt, scholars have yet to fully consider its impact on guilt post-misconduct. In this paper, we examine the indirect effects of trait moral disengagement on post-misconduct guilt, and downstream effects on employees' mental health and performance. Lastly, we explore the moderating role of post-misconduct state moral disengagement in shaping the effects of trait moral disengagement. Across three studies, we find that trait moral disengagement is positively linked to guilt following interpersonal deviance, unethical work behavior, and objective cheating behavior. Further, trait moral disengagement is indirectly, positively linked to emotional exhaustion and negatively related to executive function (specifically, the capacity to inhibit distraction during tasks). In a fourth study, we find that trait moral disengagement is positively associated with guilt and subsequent emotional exhaustion when individuals employ little to no state moral disengagement immediately post-misconduct. In contrast, trait moral disengagement is negatively linked to guilt and emotional exhaustion when individuals employ state moral disengagement post-misconduct. We discuss the implications of these findings for advancing moral disengagement theory and research.

Link: Google Scholar

Background and Context

Moral Disengagement Theory

Bandura's theory suggests that moral disengagement is a cognitive mechanism that allows individuals to justify unethical behavior and avoid feeling guilty when contemplating wrongdoing.

Research Gap

While previous research shows that moral disengagement reduces anticipatory guilt, little is known about whether it similarly curtails guilt after someone has actually committed workplace misconduct.

Study Methodology

Researchers conducted four studies examining interpersonal deviance, unethical work behavior, and cheating behavior to test whether trait moral disengagement affects post-misconduct guilt and subsequent emotional exhaustion and task performance.

Moral Disengagement Leads to Increased Workplace Misconduct

Trait Moral Disengagement Interpersonal Deviance Unethical Behavior Cheating Behavior
  • Across all four studies, people with higher trait moral disengagement engaged in more workplace misconduct.
  • Moral disengagement was positively linked to interpersonal deviance (e.g., making fun of coworkers) and unethical behaviors.
  • In experimental studies, individuals with higher moral disengagement were more likely to cheat when given the opportunity.

Contrary to Theory, Moral Disengagers Experience Higher Guilt After Misconduct

Theoretical Assumption Research Finding Moral Disengagement Should Prevent Guilt Moral Disengagement Actually Increases Guilt
  • Traditional moral disengagement theory suggests it should prevent guilt feelings after wrongdoing.
  • Surprisingly, across studies, trait moral disengagement was positively associated with post-misconduct guilt.
  • This challenges a key assumption that moral disengagement effectively shields individuals from self-condemning emotions.

Guilt Following Misconduct Leads to Increased Emotional Exhaustion

  • Post-misconduct guilt acts as a mediator between misconduct and emotional exhaustion.
  • The strongest relationship in the pathway is between guilt and emotional exhaustion (β = 0.41).
  • This indicates guilt-driven emotional exhaustion is a significant consequence for moral disengagers who commit misconduct.

Post-Misconduct Guilt Impairs Executive Function and Task Performance

Post-Misconduct Guilt Reduced Executive Function Decreased Task Performance Self-condemning emotions Inability to inhibit distractions Stroop test and proofreading errors
  • Post-misconduct guilt impairs executive function, particularly the ability to inhibit distractions during tasks.
  • Studies measured this using the Stroop test, which assesses cognitive control and attention management.
  • This reduced executive function translates to decreased task performance in work-related activities like proofreading.

State Moral Disengagement After Misconduct Reverses the Negative Effects

  • Post-misconduct state moral disengagement moderates the relationship between trait moral disengagement and guilt.
  • When state moral disengagement is low, trait moral disengagement leads to increased guilt (+0.07).
  • When state moral disengagement is high, trait moral disengagement leads to decreased guilt (-0.11).

Contribution and Implications

  • Challenges assumption that moral disengagement protects individuals from experiencing guilt after wrongdoing.
  • Expands moral disengagement theory beyond ethical consequences to include employee well-being and performance impacts.
  • Highlights the critical role of "in-the-moment" state moral disengagement in managing post-misconduct emotions.
  • Suggests ethical training should emphasize personal costs of moral disengagement (guilt, exhaustion, performance decline).
  • Indicates employees might benefit from ethical decision-making training to avoid both misconduct and its consequences.

Data Sources

  • Finding 1 visualization based on theoretical model and data from Table 2 showing positive relationship between moral disengagement and misconduct.
  • Finding 2 visualization based on the theoretical framework and surprising positive correlations found in Tables 1, 2, 3, and 5.
  • Finding 3 chart created using regression coefficients from Table 6 (Study 3) showing pathway from moral disengagement to emotional exhaustion.
  • Finding 4 visualization based on the study findings about executive function and Stroop test performance from Study 3.
  • Finding 5 chart created using moderation data from Table 8 (Study 4) showing effects of state moral disengagement.