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Manara MU, Nübold A, van Gils S, Zijlstra FRH. Exploring the path to corruption-An informed grounded theory study on the decision-making process underlying corruption. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291819. [PMID: 37733675 PMCID: PMC10513331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Past corruption research at the individual level has mainly focused on demographics, personality, attitudes, or morality related variables. Until now, only a few studies have focused on the intra-individual psychological mechanisms of corruption. Building on normative decision-making theory, the present study attempts to shed further light on the internal mechanisms that lead to the decision that corruption is a viable path. Following an informed grounded theory approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 38 Indonesian prisoners who have been convicted of corruption. Guided by a multi-step decision-making process, including problem recognition, information search, and evaluation of the information, our results revealed unique insights into individuals' considerations that led to corruption. We elaborate on interrelations between these stages and explore new forms of corrupt decision-making elements within this process. Theoretical implications for corruption research and the practical implications for anti-corruption programs of these findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Untung Manara
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, University of Merdeka Malang, Malang, East Java, Indonesia
| | - Annika Nübold
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands
| | - Suzanne van Gils
- Department of Communication and Culture, BI Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway
| | - Fred R. H. Zijlstra
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands
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Niu B, Li Y, Ding X, Fan Z, Zhou B, Cheng X. Role of Guanxi (interpersonal relationship) in bribe-taking behaviors: evidence from China. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023:1-16. [PMID: 37359645 PMCID: PMC10000347 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-04486-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Bribery, an illegal conspiracy between two transactional parties, has a wide range of destructive effects on society. From an interpersonal interaction perspective, we explored how Guanxi (interpersonal relationships, including direct and indirect ones) influences individuals, especially government officials' bribe-taking probability, using behavioral experiments and questionnaires. The findings suggested that direct Guanxi promoted individuals' acceptance of bribes (Study 1a), and indirect Guanxi had the same role and effect sizes (Study 1b). However, the mechanisms were slightly different. Government officials were more likely to accept bribes from family members and friends (direct Guanxi) (than strangers) because they had more trust and felt more responsible and obligated to help them (Study 2). However, accepting bribes from those who contacted them through their family or friends (indirect Guanxi) (vs. strangers) was only driven by trust (Study 3). The present study explores the lubricant role of Guanxi in corruption, extends the literature on why bribery occurs from a new perspective, and provides suggestions for fighting corruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingyu Niu
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, 430079 Hubei China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Ye Li
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, 430079 Hubei China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Xianfeng Ding
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, 430079 Hubei China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhao Fan
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, 430079 Hubei China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Bingping Zhou
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, 430079 Hubei China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaorong Cheng
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, 430079 Hubei China
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
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Niu B, Li Y, Ding X, Shi C, Zhou B, Gong J. Neural correlates of bribe-taking decision dilemma: An fNIRS study. Brain Cogn 2023; 166:105951. [PMID: 36680856 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2023.105951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Bribe-taking decision is a social dilemma for individuals: the pursuit of economic self-interest vs. compliance with social norms. Despite the well-known existence of the conflict in deciding whether to accept bribes, little is known about its neural responses. Using functional near-infrared imaging (fNIRS) technology and the bribe-taking decision game (economic gambling game as a control condition), the current study dissociated the neural correlates of the different motivations in the bribery dilemma, as well as the inhibitory effect of social norms on bribery and its underlying brain mechanisms in supra-cortical regions. Findings revealed that if individuals are more motivated by economic interest, rejecting money (vs. accepting money) accompanies higher activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and frontopolar cortex (FPC), which reflects impulse inhibition and decision evaluation; whereas, if individuals are more consider social norms, their DLPFC is more active when they accept bribes (vs. reject bribes), which reflects their fear of punishment. Additionally, the key brain region where social norms inhibit bribery involves the left DLPFC. The current findings contribute to the literature on the neural manifestations of corrupt decisions and provide some insights into the anti-corruption movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingyu Niu
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyber Psychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Ye Li
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyber Psychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.
| | - Xianfeng Ding
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyber Psychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.
| | - Congrong Shi
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyber Psychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Bingping Zhou
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyber Psychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian Gong
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, No. 152 Luoyu Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyber Psychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
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The ends justify the means? Psychometric parameters of the MACH-IV, the two-dimensional MACH-IV and the trimmed MACH in Brazil. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-020-00892-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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5
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Su Q, Liu L, Dang J, Gu Z, Liang Y, Wei C. Low personal control promotes bribery intention: Reciprocity beliefs as a mediator. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-02889-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Zhao J, Zhong H. The licensing effect of luck: The influence of perceived luck on green consumption intention. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02640-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Prundeanu O, Constantin T, Popuşoi SA. Climb up your ego! Narcissistic status pursuit and motivation to lead. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.110830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Zhu X, Geng Y. HERO or DT, what comes first? The causal relationship between psychological capital and dark tetrad differed. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01544-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Manara MU, van Gils S, Nübold A, Zijlstra FRH. Corruption, Fast or Slow? Ethical Leadership Interacts With Machiavellianism to Influence Intuitive Thinking and Corruption. Front Psychol 2020; 11:578419. [PMID: 33304296 PMCID: PMC7693446 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.578419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ethical leadership has been suggested as an organizational factor that could reduce unethical behaviors in an organization. We extend this research by examining how and when ethical leadership could reduce followers’ corruption. We examined the moderating role of followers’ Machiavellianism and the mediating role of intuitive thinking style in the negative effect of ethical leadership on corruption. Across two different studies (field study and experiment), we found that ethical leadership decreases followers’ corruption (Studies 1 and 2) and that this negative effect is mediated by followers’ intuitive thinking style (Study 2). Furthermore, followers’ Machiavellianism moderated the direct negative effect of ethical leadership on corruption. However, the pattern of this moderation was not consistent. In Study 1, we found that ethical leadership has the strongest direct negative impact on corruption when followers’ Machiavellianism is high, whereas in Study 2, we found that ethical leadership has the strongest direct negative effect on corruption when followers’ Machiavellianism is low. The theoretical implications for corruption, ethical leadership, and information processing research, as well as practical implications for corruption prevention, will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad U Manara
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Faculty of Psychology, University of Merdeka Malang, Malang, Indonesia
| | - Suzanne van Gils
- Department of Communication and Culture, BI Norwegian Business School, Oslo, Norway
| | - Annika Nübold
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Fred R H Zijlstra
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Johnson LK. Narcissistic people, not narcissistic nations: Using multilevel modelling to explore narcissism across countries. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.110079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Julián M, Bonavia T. Understanding unethical behaviors at the university level: a multiple regression analysis. ETHICS & BEHAVIOR 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/10508422.2020.1723101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Zhao H, Zhang H, Xu Y. How social face consciousness influences corrupt intention: Examining the effects of Honesty–Humility and moral disengagement. The Journal of Social Psychology 2018; 159:443-458. [DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2018.1507992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Heyun Zhang
- Shanghai University of Political Science and Law
| | - Yan Xu
- Beijing Normal University
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Ying L, Cohen A. Dark triad personalities and counterproductive work behaviors among physicians in China. Int J Health Plann Manage 2018; 33:e985-e998. [DOI: 10.1002/hpm.2577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Liu Ying
- School of Public AdministrationRenmin University of China Beijing China
| | - Aaron Cohen
- School of Political Science, Division of Public AdministrationUniversity of Haifa Haifa Israel
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Martins AT, Ros A, Valério L, Faísca L. Basic Emotion Recognition According to Clinical Personality Traits. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-017-9661-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Nübold A, Bader J, Bozin N, Depala R, Eidast H, Johannessen EA, Prinz G. Developing a Taxonomy of Dark Triad Triggers at Work - A Grounded Theory Study Protocol. Front Psychol 2017; 8:293. [PMID: 28326048 PMCID: PMC5339219 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In past years, research and corporate scandals have evidenced the destructive effects of the dark triad at work, consisting of narcissism (extreme self-centeredness), psychopathy (lack of empathy and remorse) and Machiavellianism (a sense of duplicity and manipulativeness). The dark triad dimensions have typically been conceptualized as stable personality traits, ignoring the accumulating evidence that momentary personality expressions - personality states - may change due to the characteristics of the situation. The present research protocol describes a qualitative study that aims to identify triggers of dark triad states at work by following a grounded theory approach using semi-structured interviews. By building a comprehensive categorization of dark triad triggers at work scholars may study these triggers in a parsimonious and structured way and organizations may derive more effective interventions to buffer or prevent the detrimental effects of dark personality at work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Nübold
- Department of Work and Social Psychology, Maastricht UniversityMaastricht, Netherlands
| | - Josef Bader
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of CoimbraCoimbra, Portugal
| | - Nera Bozin
- Department of Psychology, University of LjubljanaLjubljana, Slovenia
| | - Romil Depala
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of OxfordOxford, UK
| | | | | | - Gerhard Prinz
- Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, University of ViennaVienna, Austria
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Zhao H, Zhang H, Xu Y. Effects of perceived descriptive norms on corrupt intention: The mediating role of moral disengagement. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2017; 54:93-101. [PMID: 28139097 DOI: 10.1002/ijop.12401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The present study attempts to examine the effect of perceived descriptive norms on corrupt intention (e.g., bribe-taking intention) and then further explore the psychological mechanism underlying this effect. Based on social cognitive theory, we established a mediation model in which moral disengagement partially mediated the link between perceived descriptive norms and corrupt intention. In Study 1, participants (N = 690) completed a series of questionnaires, and the results demonstrated that, while perceived descriptive norms were positively associated with corrupt intention, it was partially mediated by moral disengagement. In Study 2, we conducted a priming experiment (N = 161) to test the causal relationship and psychological mechanism between perceived descriptive norms and corrupt intention. The results revealed that perceived descriptive norms triggered the propensity of individuals to morally disengage, which in turn, partially increased their corrupt intention. This study not only extends previous research by providing evidence that moral disengagement may be one of the reasons why perceived descriptive norms facilitate corrupt intention, but also suggests that reshaping normative beliefs and preventing the moral disengagement of individuals may be the effective ways to curb corrupt behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Zhao
- School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Heyun Zhang
- School of Social Administration, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Xu
- School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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