Status Differentiation and the Protean Self: A Social-Cognitive Model of Unethical Behavior in

Organizations

In this article, the authors presented pratical recommendations for organizations and managers
trying to reduce unethical behavior using experimental approach grounded in social cognitive
theory. The experimental approach permits stronger inferences of causality and greater control over
potential confounding variables. However, it still raises questions about external validity and
generalizability. Social cognitive theory also lacks of attention it pays to context call for research to
investigate contectual factors which can depress moral schemas. This article answers that call by
integrating contemporary models of the self and social structural conditions associated with the
distribution of status within an organization to further understanding of behavioral ethics.

No previous theory of unethical behavior has directly or indirectly linked status distribution to the
activation of self identities that people might use as a basis for self-definition and then to unethical
behavior. Unlike the majority of research in this area, it focuses on the role contextual factors play in
explaining unethical behavior. The authors proposed that it is worth considering how greater status
differentiation might affect the way that groups within the organization perceive and relate to one
another, and whether there might be ways to maintain a shared organizational or community
identity as opposed to the one that creates separation and isolation between organizational elites
and everyone else.

What makes top level executives engage in practices that observers might consider unethical? The
authors believe that status differentiation in organizations creates social isolation and thus,
executives’ high moral identity is suppressed. The high status group identity results in insensivity to
the needs of out-group members, consequently resulting in decreased motivation to self-regulate
ethical decision making.

The model in this article is grounded on a social cognitive theory of human behavior. It posits that
conduct is translated into action through self regulatory mechanisms. One of the mechanisms of self
regulation in social cognitive theory is the self system, that can be conceptualized as a set of mental
structures and provesses that consist of an ongoing sense of self-awareness and stable mental
representations. According to social cognitive theory, the self system is influenced by the social
environment and this article proposes a model in which the enviromental condition of status
differentiation can contribute to the displacement of a high status person’s moral identity by their
status group identity.

6. Discuss the methods. Which methods are used? Are the methods appropriate? Are the methods
explained in a clear manner? Can you spot weaknesses in the applied methods?

7. How did the authors interpret their results? Are they providing a satisfactory explanation for their
observations? How do these observations fit within the body of knowledge of your research field.
Are the results used for the development of recommendations? Are these recommendations
practice-ready. If there are gaps in the interpretation or possibilities for implementation, point these
out.

8. Evaluate the summary and conclusions section. There should be no new information in these
sections, and they should be clear for reading.

9. Discuss the writing/language. If the manuscript suffers from serious editorial issues, suggest the
authors to send it to a professional proofreading office.

10. Discuss the figures and tables. Are they clear? Do they follow the guidelines of the journal?
11. Write a conclusion of your review report. Summarize in one paragraph your decision (accept,
minor revisions, major revisions, reject) and give the main reasons for this decision.

12. The second heading of your review report should read "Technical/Editorial comments." Add a
table with detailed technical and editorial comments below your general comments section. You can
use the following columns: Page - Lie - T/E - Comment to organize your more detailed comments.