Religious But Not Ethical: The Effects of Extrinsic Religiosity, Ethnocentrism and Self-righteousness on Consumers’ Ethical Judgments

Abstract

The current research investigates how religiosity can influence unethicality in a consumption context. In particular, considering the link between extrinsic religious orientations and unethicality, this research clarifies why and when extrinsic religiosity leads to unethical decisions. Across two studies, findings show that ethnocentrism is both a mediator (Study 1) and a moderator (Studies 1 and 2) of the effects of extrinsic religiosity on consumers' ethical judgments. This is because extrinsic religiosity leads to ethnocentrism, and in-group loyalty manifested through ethnocentrism increases support for unethical consumer actions, thus establishing ethnocentrism as a mediator. At the same time, different levels of ethnocentrism can also influence how extrinsic religiosity leads to supporting unethical consumption via selfrighteousness, thus establishing ethnocentrism as a moderator. The findings from this research have significant implications for diverse stakeholders who have an interest in religiosity and consumer behavior.

Religiosity, idealism, and ethical consumption: the mediating effect of perceived customer effectiveness and moral obligation

“…It is evident from the social marketing literature that campaign messages often use the values and beliefs (particularly religious and idealistic ones) of the dominant culture as an appeal to achieve the desired goals (Chowdhury, 2018;Van Esch et al, 2016;Frank and Kendall, 2001). Nevertheless, the mechanisms through which religiosity and idealism might affect consumers' likelihood of consuming ethically has received little attention in prior research (Arli et al, 2020;Van Esch et al, 2016;Graafland, 2017;Mortimer et al, 2020). The main aim of this study is to shed light on these mechanisms by examining the nexus between religiosity, idealism, moral obligation, PCE and EPI.…”

“…Contemporary social marketing scholarship is increasingly focusing on the importance of religiosity and moral philosophy (i.e. idealism) in shaping consumers' attitudes and decisions regarding ethical consumption, as both offer behavioural guidelines when consumers encounter situations with ethical content (Andersch et al, 2019;Arli et al, 2020;Van Esch et al, 2016;Graafland, 2017;Wenli and Chan, 2019). Even so, empirical research has produced contradictory results about their effects.…”

“…Meanwhile, other researchers have established a solid empirical connection between religiosity and pro-social acts (Graafland, 2017;McCullough, 2009), and thus, religiosity has many implications for social marketing campaigns (Van Esch et al, 2016). Many scholars have called for more research to elucidate the connection between religiosity or idealism and ethical consumerism (Arli et al, 2020;Van Esch et al, 2016;Graafland, 2017;Mortimer et al, 2020).…”

The interactive effects of religiosity and recognition in increasing donation

“…intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity) show that intrinsic religiosity is more likely than extrinsic religiosity to drive prosocial behavior (Chau et al , 1990; Johnson et al , 2013; Mazereeuw-van der Duijn Schouten et al , 2014; Paciotti et al , 2011). In fact, some research even suggests that extrinsic religiosity can lead to unethical consumer behaviors such as getting too much change and not saying anything and downloading or buying counterfeit goods (Arli et al , 2017; Arli and Pekerti, 2016; Arli et al , 2020). Furthermore, other research has approached extrinsic and intrinsic religiosity as distinct and mutually exclusive (Table 1; Benson et al , 1980; Hansen et al , 1995; Johnson et al , 2013; Ryckman et al , 2004).…”

Sustainable Purchase Behavior Through Religious Orientation, Psychological Contract & Intention-evidence From Pakistani Retail Industry

“…Role of extrinsic and intrinsic religiosity (Arli et al, 2020) and purchase behavior along with deeper insight into the demographics (weather through big data or online purchase platforms as being the post pandemic era). Religious orientation stewardship backed holistic marketing modelling through qualitative research in the multiple streams of products ranging from nancial and non-nancial categories in order to have a cluster of best practices and new variables that could be much more suitable in terms of the psychological capital (PsyCap) of the public at large where religious sensitivity is abundant or notable and can have business value impacts for the companies commonly.…”