Why good people (pg 119-132)

Practice flashcards covering core concepts, models, experiments, and insights from Kaptein’s ethics at work framework and related social psychology findings.

What are the seven factors Kaptein identifies as shaping ethical behavior at work?

Clarity, Role-modeling, Achievability, Commitment, Transparency, Openness, and Enforcement.

How does Clarity influence ethical behavior in Kaptein's model?

Clear expectations about desirable/undesirable behavior help people know what they must do and reduce ambiguity.

What is Role-modeling and why does it matter?

The behavior of directors and supervisors serves as an example; good models improve behavior, while bad models can degrade it.

Explain the concept of Achievability in Kaptein's framework.

The extent to which goals, tasks, and responsibilities are feasible given people’s capabilities and resources.

What does Commitment refer to in the seven-factor framework?

The motivation of directors and employees to invest effort in the organization’s interests; higher commitment improves alignment and effort.

Define Transparency in Kaptein's model.

The visibility of one’s own and others’ behavior and its effects, which enhances accountability and adjustment.

What is Openness in Kaptein's framework?

Freedom to discuss viewpoints, emotions, dilemmas and transgressions; fosters learning and reduces thought suppression.

What is Enforcement in Kaptein's framework?

The use of rewards, sanctions, and corrective learning to shape behavior and reinforce norms.

What is the Pygmalion effect?

The phenomenon where managers’ and teachers’ expectations influence others’ performance, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

What is the Golem effect?

The opposite of the Pygmalion effect: low expectations lead to poorer performance.

What is the Galatea effect?

Self-image influences behavior; belief in one’s own ability can boost performance and ethics.

What does the Bagels at Work experiment illustrate about honesty at work?

Most people act honestly with small temptations, but about 1 in 7 may still steal or short-change in petty transgressions over time.

What is the warm glow theory of altruism?

Altruism is partly driven by an internal satisfaction or “warm glow”; helping others makes the helper feel good.

Is pure altruism possible? Provide evidence.

Research shows spontaneous helping by children (Warneken & Tomasello) and adults (Batson) can occur due to genuine empathy, not just self-interest.

What is the difference between Descriptive and Injunctive norms?

Descriptive norms describe what people do; injunctive norms describe what people should do; both influence behavior.

What is the Broken Window theory?

Visible signs of disorder (graffiti, litter) signal that rule-breaking is tolerated and can lead to more crime; fixing small problems can reduce larger ones.

What is hypegiaphobia?

Fear of rules; excessive rules can dampen initiative and lead to overcontrol and misuse of guidelines.

Explain reactance theory.

People resist threats to their freedom; strict prohibitions can backfire, making forbidden actions more appealing.

What is the four-eyes principle?

Decision-making or approval requires two or more people to look at and approve, increasing accountability.

Describe the mirror experiment (Beaman et al.).

Self-awareness induced by a mirror reduces misbehavior (e.g., theft) by making people reflect on their actions.

What is the purpose of the chapter ‘The Name of the Game’?

Show how euphemisms and labels (e.g., ‘earnings management’) normalize unethical behavior and influence actions.

What is the bystander effect in organizations?

With more witnesses, individuals are less likely to intervene; cultures should promote speaking up and whistleblowing.

What are lowball and door-in-the-face tactics?

Lowball offers a small initial commitment with hidden costs; door-in-the-face starts with a large request to increase compliance with a smaller one.

What are implementation intentions?

Concrete plans specifying where, when, and how to act to turn resolutions into sustained behavior change.

Why is sleep important for moral decision-making?

Moral muscles rely on self-control; sleep deprivation reduces self-control, increasing unethical behavior.

What is the abundance/wealth effect on ethics?

Wealth and luxury can increase unethical behavior; people may cheat more when surrounded by wealth.

Describe the Heinz dilemma and Kohlberg’s levels of moral development.

A man steals to save his wife; stages range from preconventional to postconventional, showing how moral reasoning evolves.

What is the crowding-out effect?

Punishments or penalties can undermine intrinsic motives, shifting behavior from moral reasoning to cost-benefit calculations.

What is the overjustification effect?

Extrinsic rewards can diminish intrinsic motivation, reducing long-term engagement in the rewarded activity.

What is the waterbed effect in rule enforcement?

Solving a problem in one area often shifts misconduct to another area unless an integrated approach is used.

What is the four eyes principle in practice?

Seeing and being seen by others (eye contact, visible oversight) encourages ethical behavior.

What does the ‘moral licensing’ concept imply in transparency experiments?

Publicizing conflicts of interest can paradoxically permit biased or unethical behavior due to perceived legitimacy.

What is the magnetic middle effect?

People on either side of the average tend to move toward the mean when feedback is given, influencing overall behavior.

Why is descriptive/injunctive norm alignment critical in organizations?

Misalignment between what is done and what should be done can undermine ethics; organizations should align cues, messaging, and environment.

What is the role of social bonding in ethics (A personal face)?

People are more likely to behave ethically toward others they feel connected to; giving the organization a relatable face supports trust.

What is the significance of the ‘halo effect’ and ‘moral self-fulfillment’?

Visible good deeds or moral branding can create a false perception of overall virtue; people may excuse other unethical acts.

How do descriptive norms interact with the physical environment (Cialdini’s flyers)?

A dirty environment increases littering; a clean environment reinforces normative behavior and adherence.