伦理诱惑的识解水平

Decision-making under Ethical Temptation:How Construal Level Theory May Help

伦理诱惑是自我控制失败导致非伦理行为的跨期决策情景。人们对伦理诱惑的识解表征会影响伦理决策。高水平的识解表征使决策者能更清晰地意识到伦理诱惑情景中隐含的伦理原则,形成伦理判断、实现自我控制,从而促进符合伦理原则的行为;低水平的识解表征导致决策者偏好短期目标、追求工具性结果、计较利益得失,忽视伦理诱惑情景中隐含的伦理原则,带来违背伦理原则的行为。研究伦理诱惑的识解水平对伦理决策的影响机制具有重要的理论与实践意义。

Ethical temptation is defined as moral judgment situations in which unethical decisions are made due to failure of self-control especially in inter-temporal choices. According to the construal level theory, individual difference in construal level may impact decision-making under ethical temptation. When facing ethical temptations, individuals with a high construal level are likely to aware the ethical principles imbedded in the decision-making process, form ethical judgment, and behave in ways that are consistent with ethical principles through the mechanism of self-control. On the other hand, individuals with a low construal level may pay attention to short-term instrumental outcomes by deliberative thinking, overlook the ethical principles, and behave unethically. Therefore, we argue that the construal level theory is a theoretical tool with practical implications in understating decision-making under ethical temptation.