Juggling Work and Home Selves: Low Identity Integration Feels Less Authentic and Increases Unethicality
Mahdi, E., Kouchaki, M., & Patrick, V. M. (2019), “Juggling Work and Home Selves: Low Identity Integration Feels Less Authentic and Increases Unethicality,” forthcoming in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.
Posted: 10 Jun 2020
Date Written: March 18, 2019
Abstract
This research investigates the effect of individuals’ subjective perceptions of the overlap among different identities on their feelings of authenticity and the likelihood of engaging in unethical behavior. Across four studies we found that low (vs. high) identity integration led to greater feelings of in-authenticity and a higher likelihood of engaging in unethical behavior. Manipulation of low (vs. high or control) identity integration led to higher feelings of in-authenticity (Study 1) and greater cheating behavior (Study 2). Feelings of in-authenticity mediated the causal effect of low identity integration on dishonesty (Study 3). In a field survey, using supervisor–employee dyads, we replicated the results from the lab to show that employees who reported lower identity integration felt more inauthentic and were more likely to behave unethically as measured by their supervisors’ report of interpersonal and organizational deviance (Study 4). Our results demonstrate that the manner in which individuals view their multiple identities influences feelings of in-authenticity and unethical behavior.
Keywords: Identity Integration, Authenticity, Ethical Behavior, Self
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation