The moderating effect of general system justification on the relationship between unethical behavior and self-esteem

ABSTRACT

Previous studies obtained mixed results regarding the association between unethical behavior and self-esteem. To make sense of these results, the current research examined the moderating role of general system justification on the relationship between unethical behavior and self-esteem. Study 1 and Study 2, using a bribery scenario and an actual cheating behavior respectively, indicated that unethical behavior was positively related to self-esteem when general system justification was low, and the opposite was true when general system justification was high. Study 3 and Study 4, using a recall and a real behavior paradigms respectively, confirmed that the causal effect of unethical behavior on self-esteem was contingent upon general system justification. Our results imply that it is vital to increase the general system justification by promoting the process of social equity and justice to highlight the psychological cost of wrongdoing.

KEYWORDS:

• Unethical behavior
• self-esteem
• general system justification
• moderation
• justice
• mixed results

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 31571145); Beijing Social Science Foundation (grant number 13ZHB027); and the Program of the Co-Construction with Beijing Municipal Commission of Education of China.