A dual process social psychological model of corrupt intention and attitudes toward corrupt people.

Abstract

Preliminary studies indicate that ideologies and worldviews are key in understanding the motivation behind corruption. Yet, there is no model seeking to explain corrupt intention that incorporates ideology and worldviews as predictors. Our objective was to propose a model integrating ideological factors (social dominance orientation [SDO] and right-wing authoritarianism [RWA]) and their underlying worldviews (competitive worldview beliefs [CWB] and dangerous worldview beliefs [DWB]) as predictors of corrupt intention and attitudes toward corrupt people and examine the model in the high corruption context of Brazil. For that purpose, preregistered hypotheses were tested across six studies. Results confirmed that corrupt intention is predicted by SDO but not RWA, while attitudes toward corrupt people are predicted by RWA but not SDO (Studies 1, 2, and 4). Replicating these findings cross-culturally, World Values Survey data (Study 3) indicated that corrupt intention is predicted by a proxy SDO index but not by a proxy RWA index. Experimentally increasing DWB amplified corrupt intention, but attitudes toward corrupt people remained unaffected (Study 5). Study 6 further confirmed the independence of corrupt intention and attitudes toward corrupt people, with corrupt intention primarily predicted by CWB and attitudes toward corrupt people primarily predicted by RWA. Hence, the first social psychological model that seeks to explain corruption integrating ideologies and worldviews was successfully proposed with implications for future research.

Changes in Dangerous and Competitive Worldviews During the Coronavirus Epidemic: Evidence from a Large-Scale U.S. Panel Study

“…BCW also has the potential to influence behaviors and attitudes. It relates to a greater likelihood to engage in corrupt behavior (Vilanova et al, 2022), an increased tendency to fake one's qualifications in selective processes (Roulin & Krings, 2016), and a decreased endorsement of individualizing moral foundations (i.e., less consideration of fairness and harm to others when making moral judgements; Leone et al, 2017). Similar to BDW, it is probable that BCW could indirectly reinforce intergroup hostility and prejudice, through its robust link with increased endorsement of social dominance orientation.…”

“…Competitive worldviews also relate to increased intentions to engage in corrupt behaviors (Vilanova et al, 2022). However little to no evidence exists highlighting how changes in world views relate to change in actual behavior.…”

The psychological causes and societal consequences of authoritarianism

“…However, emerging work demonstrates the potential to channel the harmful impulses of right-wing authoritarianism into societally beneficial outcomes 164 . For example, right-wing authoritarianism correlates negatively with attitudes towards corrupt people 165 , perhaps because cheating undermines social cohesion 52 . Likewise, given its assumed evolutionary purpose of fostering conformity to facilitate largescale group living 47,48 , right-wing authoritarianism can yield positive outcomes if they are perceived to be normative.…”

Collective action against corruption in Western and non-Western countries: cross-cultural implications of the Axiological-Identitary Collective Action Model

“…Corruption can be considered as an illegal behavior or crime (i.e., ‘illegal use of power’). As such, it generally involves the violation of social norms by, among others, being dishonest (see, e.g., Vilanova et al, 2022 ). In turn, corruption negatively affects almost all spheres of society and therefore has serious political and socio-economic consequences (from disruption of the mechanism of market competition and unfair redistribution of vital goods to a decrease in trust in society).…”