Status Differentiation & the Protean Self
Speaker
Abstract
| Why is it that high status individuals in organizations like Enron or British Petroleum engage in unethical behaviors such as violating financial or safety regulations thereby putting their employees (and society’s) financial future and physical well-being at risk? This paper presents a social cognitive model that seeks to explain why high status members of organizations with a high degree of status differentiation are more likely to engage in unethical behavior than members of egalitarian organizations. We argue that status differentiation in organizations creates social isolation which initiates activation of high status group identity and a deactivation of moral identity. We further argue that high status group identity results in insensitivity to the needs of out-group members which, in turn, results in lessened motivation to self-regulate ethical decision making. As a result of this identity activation, we demonstrate how high status individuals will be more vulnerable to engaging in unethical activities. Individual-level moderators of the relationships are also discussed. |
| Contact information: |
| Christian Troester |
