U4 Issue
| 2018
The cognitive psychology of corruption. Micro-level explanations for unethical behaviour
How to cite this publication:
Kendra Dupuy, Siri Neset (2018). The cognitive psychology of corruption. Micro-level explanations for unethical behaviour. Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (U4 Issue 2018:2)
Traditional theories of corruption often make assumptions about motivations that may not necessarily be valid. We explored the power of an alternative theoretical paradigm to explain corrupt behaviour: cognitive psychology. We found evidence in the existing literature on the cognitive psychology of corruption about the psychological influence of power, personal gain and self-control, loss aversion and risk acceptance, rationalisation, and emotion on the propensity to act corruptly.
