Moral Character and Workplace Deviance: Recent Research and Current Trends

Kim, Y., & Cohen, T. R.. (in press 2015). Moral character and workplace deviance: Recent research and current trends. Current Opinion in Psychology, Forthcoming.

16 Pages Posted: 13 Aug 2015

See all articles by Yeonjeong Kim

Yeonjeong Kim

Carnegie Mellon University - David A. Tepper School of Business

Taya R. Cohen

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

Date Written: August 6, 2015

Abstract

This article discusses contemporary research on moral character and workplace deviance. We take a personality perspective, meaning we view moral character as composed of characteristic patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that are associated with morality. Whereas most research uses the Big Five model as an organizing framework for understanding personality structure, we instead recommend researchers use the HEXACO model. Honesty-Humility and Conscientiousness from the HEXACO are key indicators of moral character and predict workplace deviance. We also discuss guilt proneness and moral identity internalization — narrower moral character traits that predict workplace deviance but do not map exclusively onto the Big Five or HEXACO dimensions. Finally, we discuss measurement and modeling issues relevant to understanding moral character and workplace deviance.

Keywords: moral character; workplace deviance; counterproductive work behavior; HEXACO; Big Five; Five Factor Model (FFM); personality; organizational behavior; guilt proneness;

Suggested Citation

Kim, Yeonjeong and Cohen, Taya R., Moral Character and Workplace Deviance: Recent Research and Current Trends (August 6, 2015). Kim, Y., & Cohen, T. R.. (in press 2015). Moral character and workplace deviance: Recent research and current trends. Current Opinion in Psychology, Forthcoming., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2642933

Yeonjeong Kim

Carnegie Mellon University - David A. Tepper School of Business ( email )

5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
United States

Taya R. Cohen (Contact Author)

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business ( email )

5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
United States
4122686677 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.tepper.cmu.edu/our-faculty-and-research/about-our-faculty/faculty-profiles/tcohen/cohen-t

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