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Journal of Business Ethics

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15.12.2018 | Original Paper

Social Moral Licensing

verfasst von: Wassili Lasarov, Stefan Hoffmann

Erschienen in: Journal of Business Ethics | Ausgabe 1/2020

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Abstract

Moral licensing theory posits that individuals who initially behave morally may later display behaviors that are immoral, unethical, or otherwise problematic. While previous literature mainly focused on individual moral licensing, the influences from the social environment have barely been investigated. To address this issue, the present paper develops a conceptual framework of social moral licensing and outlines two main avenues for future research via six propositions. The first avenue entitled “the conspicuousness of moral licensing” considers moral licensing that comes into play when people are observed by others. The second avenue entitled “the relativity of moral licensing” focusses on social comparisons between individuals, their ingroups and outgroups. Specific and testable social moral licensing effects are derived in both avenues. By doing so, this paper outlines promising directions for future studies in this new research stream.

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Titel: Social Moral Licensing
verfasst von: Wassili Lasarov
Stefan Hoffmann
Publikationsdatum: 15.12.2018
Verlag: Springer Netherlands
Erschienen in: Journal of Business Ethics / Ausgabe 1/2020
Print ISSN: 0167-4544
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-0697
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-4083-z

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