HCBE Faculty Articles

Ethical Rule Breaking by Employees: A Test of Social Bonding Theory

ORCID

Randi L. Sims0000-0001-5671-1045

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Business Ethics

ISSN

0167-4544

Publication Date

1-1-2002

Abstract/Excerpt

As employees continue to lie, cheat, and steal from their employers, researchers have tried to help managers understand and possibly predict such deviant behavior. This study considers the specific employee misconduct of ethical rule breaking. Hirschi (1969) suggested that deviant behavior can be better understood by social bonding theory. The social bonding model includes four elements; attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. It is proposed that Hirschi's social bonding theory can be used to understand ethical rule breaking by employees. Using a sample of 200 employees, the results indicate that the social bonding elements of attachment and involvement can be used to better understand the reported likelihood of ethical rule breaking of employees. Recommendations for better applying the social bonding model to ethical rule breaking are suggested.

Volume

40

Issue

2

First Page

101

Last Page

109

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