In the Moment: The Effect of Mindfulness on Ethical Decision Making
Journal of Business Ethics
Short Title:
In the Moment
Format:
Journal Article
Publication Year:
n.d.
Pages:
73-87
Library/Archive:
Copyright © 2010 Springer
Sources ID:
21961
Visibility:
Private
Zotero Collections:
Contemplation by Applied Subject, Ethics, Society and Contemplation, Business Ethics and Contemplation, Business and Contemplation
Abstract:
(Show)
Many unethical decisions stem from a lack of awareness. In this article, we consider how mindfulness, an individual's awareness of his or her present experience, impacts ethical decision making. In our first study, we demonstrate that compared to individuals low in mindfulness, individuals high in mindfulness report that they are more likely to act ethically, are more likely to value upholding ethical standards (self-importance of moral identity, SMI), and are more likely to use a principled approach to ethical decision making (formalism). In our second study, we test this relationship with a novel behavioral measure of unethical behavior: the carbonless anagram method (CAM). We find that of participants who cheated, compared to individuals low in mindfulness, individuals high in mindfulness cheated less. Taken together, our results demonstrate important connections between mindfulness and ethical decision making.