Are Highly Public Service–Motivated Individuals Immune to Common Causes of Unethical Behavior? Calibrating the Moderating Role of Group Pressure and Competition for Economic Resources
- 20 October 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Public Performance & Management Review
- Vol. 46 (1), 225-256
- https://doi.org/10.1080/15309576.2022.2127806
Abstract
Previous research has neglected the moderating role of the environment in studying the negative effect of public service motivation (PSM) on unethical behavior. This article investigates whether this effect prevails under group pressure and competition for economic resources. Moreover, it assesses whether these moderating effects can be counterbalanced by activating public values. Using a survey experiment on a sample of citizens in Catalonia (Spain), the results suggest that PSM is vulnerable to group pressure and that the proposed activation of public values does little to neutralize this effect. The discussion addresses the findings and provides directions for future research.Keywords
Funding Information
- Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CSO2017-86653-P)
This publication has 90 references indexed in Scilit:
- When it takes a bad person to do the right thingCognition, 2013
- Motivation, Discretion, and CorruptionJournal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 2012
- The Causal Impact of Exposure to Deviant PeersJournal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 2012
- Public Values and Public Service MotivationThe American Review of Public Administration, 2012
- Does Ownership Matter? Public Service Motivation Among Physiotherapists in the Private and Public Sectors in DenmarkReview of Public Personnel Administration, 2011
- A Strategy for Building Public Service Motivation Research InternationallyPublic Administration Review, 2010
- Knights and Knaves Return: Public Service Motivation and the Delivery of Public ServicesInternational Public Management Journal, 2010
- GOVERNMENT CALLING: PUBLIC SERVICE MOTIVATION AS AN ELEMENT IN SELECTING GOVERNMENT AS AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICEPublic Administration, 2008
- Public ValuesAdministration & Society, 2007
- “Walking the Walk” of Public Service Motivation: Public Employees and Charitable Gifts of Time, Blood, and MoneyJournal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 2005