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Follower Propensity to Commit Crimes of Obedience

The Role of Leadership Beliefs

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Organizations and society are concerned about unethical behavior. One type of unethical behavior is crimes of obedience, where followers are influenced by a leader to engage in behavior they would otherwise consider unethical. In this article, the author proposes that people who see themselves as leadership material and hold leaders in high esteem are more likely to view leaders as having more responsibility for ethical decisions and behaviors than followers. Consequently, such persons when placed in a follower position may be more susceptible to commit crimes of obedience through the process of moral disengagement by displacing responsibility for their behavior onto the leader.

Key Words: obedience • leadership • followers • moral responsibility • moral disengagement

Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, Vol. 14, No. 1, 69-76 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1071791907304225


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