Reactions to Wrongdoers and Whistleblowers

What is it about?

Female business students were more critical of an unethical actor (described in a written scenario) than were males. Actors were generally viewed as pressured more by the situation when acting to avoid a loss than when seeking a gain. Furthermore, acting unethically was seen as less wrong when the actor sought to prevent a small loss than when the goal was to attain a small gain. When the gain or loss in question was large, the behavior was typically seen as quite wrong.

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Why is it important?

The results imply ethical training should include a focus on becoming aware of and overcoming biases in decision-making. Discussing the effects upon victims within multiple scenarios may be helpful in promoting more consistent judgments of both wrongdoers and whistleblowers. In addition, persons acquiring a better understanding of cognitive moral development may become increasing sympathetic to whistleblowers and less inclined to retaliate against them.