How Sexual Sympathies Shape Perceptions of Ethical Conduct and Organizational Justice
Imagine you are working for a company and your boss is having an affair with one of your coworkers. You know that this relationship violates your organization's code of conduct, but they seem to be getting away with it without consequence. What do you think about their actions? How do you feel when you see them together? Do you feel like justice is being served? Or does something inside you feel wrong? Your perceptions about the situation may depend on whether you approve of their relationship or not.
Sexual sympathies can influence how people perceive ethical conduct and organizational justice. When someone has positive feelings towards another person, such as admiration or attraction, they are more likely to excuse their behavior. In the example above, the employee who sees their boss and coworker having an affair might feel a sense of jealousy or resentment. They might also question why they weren't included in the relationship, leading them to judge the other couple negatively. On the other hand, if the employee supports the relationship, they might view it as harmless fun and not worthy of punishment. These differences in opinion can create a hostile work environment and lead to conflict among employees.
Studies have shown that men are more likely to believe that cheating is acceptable when it occurs between two individuals who are attracted to each other, while women are less likely to agree. This means that gender can play a role in how sexual sympathy shapes perceptions of ethical conduct and organizational justice.
There are other factors at play as well, including culture and personal belief systems.
Some cultures may place greater emphasis on monogamy than others, making infidelity seem unethical regardless of whom it involves.
Perhaps even more interestingly, research suggests that individuals with high levels of self-esteem are more forgiving of sexual transgressions by those they find attractive. This could be because they feel confident enough to overlook flaws in favor of desirable qualities, which creates a vicious cycle where sexually attractive people are perceived as better overall. The same study found that lower self-esteem had no effect on perceptions of cheating, so this phenomenon appears to be unique to people who value their own worth highly.
Sexual sympathies can shape our perceptions of what constitutes ethical behavior and how we view the distribution of justice within an organization. Our attitudes towards sex and relationships play a significant role in shaping these views, but cultural norms and individual characteristics also influence them. As long as organizations continue to address issues related to sex and power, these tensions will remain present in workplaces around the world.
How can sexual sympathies shape perceptions of ethical conduct and organizational justice?
Perceived levels of ethical conduct and organizational justice are shaped by many factors that impact how individuals experience their workplace environments. The way people relate to each other at work is influenced by several social, cultural, and individual characteristics. One factor that plays an important role in this relationship is sexual sympathies. Sexual sympathies refer to personal preferences regarding gender and sex roles in romantic relationships.