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Littering is a widespread problem that has negative consequences for the wellbeing of society and has been discussed in a wide range of subject areas. However, the lack of a unified understanding of the literature on littering presents an opportunity for a synthesis of the literature. This systematic review integrated the findings from 70 journal articles spanning 48 years. The articles were analysed for use of theories, models, methods, locations of study, variables and study findings. The researchers also undertook a content analysis of the literature to understand the evolution of approaches across time. The findings show that situational and psychological factors have often been studied using the ‘Focus Theory of Normative Conduct’ and the ‘Integrative Behaviour Model’. However, the findings have been inconsistent, with varying results for some of the situational, psychological and administrative factors. The content analysis identified that the literature from 1971 to 2006 was mostly confined to developed countries (80%) with the majority of studies examining situational and psychological factors. The gaps in the literature provided a basis for proposing five future research directions including the development of social marketing interventions by improving the theoretical groundings of previous works. As littering is consumer behaviour, it is also important to investigate the role of businesses as an integral part of the consumer exchange process to assist in improving the situation. The detailed future research directions and the conclusions of the review are presented.

ethics, marketers, marketing, norms, organizational, professional, socialization,

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Purpose The research sought to expand the conceptual understanding of the antecedents of decision-making under ethical conditions. This study aims to better understand the relationships among need for cognition (NFC), the individual ethical positions of ethical idealism and ethical relativism, organizational and professional socialization, work-related norms and ethical perceptions. Design/methodology/approach The study compared the impact of environmental influences (i.e. socialization and work-related norm) and individual temporally stable characteristics (i.e. NFC and ethical position) on ethical perceptions. The research surveyed marketers and tested a hypothesized model using structural equation modeling. Findings NFC influences marketers’ individual ethical position, their professional socialization and their work norms. The work norms of marketers are influenced by individual ethical position and organizational socialization, but not by professional socialization. Professional socialization is influenced by ethical idealism and not ethical relativism. Research limitations/implications A judgmental sampling technique was used and the findings cannot be generalized to other populations. Practical implications This research provides managers with alternative tools to encourage compliance with professional and corporate guidelines. If managers are seeking an enduring positive influence on work norms, they should be as concerned about the thinking of their employees and their employees’ ethical positions as they are with the vocational rules their subordinates adopt. Social implications Society will benefit from better understanding the different ways in which the ethical perceptions of individual employees are influenced and the various ways in which managers can contribute to ethically responsible corporations. Originality/value Although NFC has been examined in other vocational and decision-making contexts, its influence on individual ethical position, vocational socialization and work-related norms has not been empirically examined in ethical contexts for business decision-making.