Psychological antecedents to socially responsible behavior

Abstract

To date, the discussion regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR) has primarily addressed organizational rationale and activities. Little has been said about the individual characteristics and behaviors that promote the development of CSR within organizations. In this paper, we propose and test a model to explain individual differences in the propensity to engage in socially responsible behavior (SRB). By linking values, affect and reasoning to managers' propensity to ‘do good’ and ‘do no harm,’ we provide a more complete picture of how SRB arises in organizations. A survey of 643 middle managers in five multinational corporations supports our contention that values, affect and reasoning matter for SRB. In particular, self‐transcendence values (universalism and benevolence) and positive affect increase the propensity to engage in SRB, as do moral and reputation‐based reasoning styles. Moreover, we find that values and affect shape more controlled processes such as moral reasoning. We develop implications for the interaction between the individual and the organization in promoting SRB.

Identification Of Public Value Dimensions In Pakistan’s Public Sector Organizations

“…Scant research has examined employees' discretionary behaviors that target the social level or, in other words, that intend to enhance the well-being of their organization's stakeholders, including the natural environment (Crilly et al 2008;Daily et al 2009;Vlachos et al 2014). Accordingly, (Roeck & Farooq, 2017) examine societal outcome by employees' engagement in green behaviors, including employees' actions to perform work in an environmentally friendly way (e.g., recycling, rational use of resources, participation in environ-mental initiatives, setting of more sustainable policies), and societal behaviors, http://dx.doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2018.05.63 Corresponding Author: Abdul Sami Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Organizing Committee of the conference eISSN: 2357-1330 774 including employees' actions that support overall community well-being even outside the work context.…”

The Role of Personal Values and Perceived Social Support in Developing Socially Responsible Consumer Behavior

“…Researchers have analyzed the influence of personal values in shaping social and economic behaviors. For instance, Crilly et al (2008) found association between personal values and moral reasoning that leads to pro-social behavior among individuals. Similarly, Lonnqvist, Verkasalo, Wichardt, and Walkowitz (2013) examined the association between personal values and pro-social behaviors.…”

“…Benevolence refers to set of values "preserving and enhancing the welfare of those with whom one is in frequent personal contact" (Schwartz, 1992). Crilly et al, (2008); Egri and Herman (2000); and Whitener, Susan, Brodt, Audrey, and Jon (1998) noted that people who have concern for others (self-transcendence) have more pro-social behavior. Sagiv, Sverdlik, and Schwarz, (2011) argued that self-transcendence values promotes pro-social behavior.…”

“…Organizational concerns about social wellbeing has increased strikingly in recent years and companies are striving to minimize their hurtful actions and maximize their impact for societal welfare (Crilly et al, 2008). Numbers of scholars have examined the impact of corporate social responsibilities (CSR) activities on multiple stakeholders including investors, employee and consumers.…”

“…There is call for research to investigate the personal characteristics that hearten individuals to seek for social welfare rather than wealth maximization (Crilly et al, 2008), which support (Wood, 1991) call to articulate 'a principle of socially responsible human action'. The present study fills this gap by investigating the role of Schwartz's (1992) theory of personal values including self-transcendence and self-enhancement in shaping socially responsible behavior among consumers.…”