Does public service motivation foster justification of unethical behavior? Evidence from survey research among citizens

Abstract

A recent thread in public administration research suggests that public service motivation (PSM) may have a dark side. However, empirical research supporting this assumption remains scarce. In this study, we build on and combine previous theoretical studies on the relationship between PSM and (im)morality. In particular, we test whether highly public-service motivated individuals vary their justification of an unethical behavior when the value advanced by this behavior safeguards or puts at risk their interpretation of the public interest. The research design combines two vignettes and various survey questions. Using a sample of more than 1500 citizens in Catalonia (Spain), we provide initial support for a dark side of PSM: justification of unethical behavior. The results for vignette A confirm our hypotheses, while the results for vignette B are insignificant. The discussion addresses the different findings, and provides directions for future research.

Public Value at Cross Points: A Comparative Study on Employer Attractiveness of Public, Private, and Nonprofit Organizations

“…A second issue is that public organizations compete for future employees on the general labor market. In this setting of cross-sectoral competition, PSM is argued to be a specific attribute that affects individuals’ behavior in a variety of settings, and not only in public organizations (Jin, 2013; Perry et al, 2008; Ripoll & Schott, 2020). Consequently, we need more scientific evidence on how employer characteristics such as public value signals and job seekers’ characteristics such as PSM interact, and shape perceived employer attractiveness among the general public.…”

Disclosing the relationship between public service motivation and job satisfaction in the Chinese public sector: A moderated mediation model

“…However, it is worth noting that PSM is not a panacea for high job satisfaction ( Bright, 2008 ). Previous studies have proved that PSM might have a dark side, lead to “resigned satisfaction,” work stress, unethical behavior, and so on ( Giauque et al, 2012 , 2013 ; Liu et al, 2015a , b ; Ripoll and Schott, 2020 ).…”

Implicit Dimensions of Moral Licensing in Citizen-State Interactions

“…Individuals' moral selfconcept is a relevant predictor of licensing deviant behavior because it affects individuals' ability to morally disengage from the adverse consequences of deviant behavior (Abraham, Suleeman, and Takwin 2018;Albert Bandura 2002;Yang et al 2020), which is a prerequisite for moral licensing. However, the relationship between positive moral self-concept and moral licensing is potentially bidirectional: While a positive moral self-concept based on salient prosocial, other-directed, and public values may prevent citizens' moral licensing of deviant behavior in citizen-state interaction, individuals with a positive moral self-concept derived from prior good deeds may also derive entitlement to engage in more moral licensing from these past events through the process of elastic justification (Albert Bandura 2002; Blanken, van de Ven, and Zeelenberg 2015; Merritt, Effron, and Monin 2010;Ripoll and Schott 2020).…”