Whistleblowing and Corrupt Tendencies among Selected Employees in Three Public Organizations

Roles of Corruption Tolerance, Punishment Anxiety, and Neutralization

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56741/jmsd.v3i02.535


Keywords:

Corruption, Neutralization, Nigeria, Punishment, Public Organization, Whistleblowing

Abstract

Anti-corruption efforts are often predicated on how to encourage whistleblowing and discourage corruption. To strengthen the anti-corruption drives, previous studies underscored the need for more research on psychological variables that may be connected with whistleblowing and corruption. This study, therefore, tested the extent to which employees in public sector service occupations are likely to engage in corruption and whistleblowing when they condone corruption, are less apprehensive about punishment, and can justify punishable work behaviors. This correlational study involved 331 employees (155 males; 176 females) of public sector organizations (110 health workers; 116 police personnel; 105 teachers), whose had a mean age of 43.01 years (SD = 7.86). They completed measures of corruption tolerance, punishment anxiety, workplace neutralization, whistleblowing intentions, and corrupt tendencies.  Results of the 2-step hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that whistleblowing intentions significantly reduced as employees condoned corruption, were afraid of punishment, and justified punishable work behaviors. Corrupt tendencies significantly increased as employees overlooked corruption and were able to justify punishable work behaviors, but decreased significantly as they became apprehensive of punishment. Based on these results, public sector organizations, especially the police, health, and education, should institute policies and implement psychological strategies that reduce the corruption-tolerant climate in the workplace; by increasing the fear of punishment for corruption and encouraging moral obligations to whistle-blow corruption among employees.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Bolanle Ogungbamila, Adekunle Ajasin University

is a professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology in the Department of Pure and Applied Psychology at the Adekunle Ajasin University, PMB 001 Akungba-Akoko, 34-234 Ondo State, Nigeria. He is currently on Sabbatical Leave at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Lagos, Nigeria. He has published many articles on corruption and corruption tolerance (email: bolanle.ogungnamila@aaua.edu.ng).

Bamidele Emmanuel Osamika, Miami University

 is a budding researcher. He is a doctoral student at the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA (email: bamifedd@gmail.com).

Emmanuel Dada Job, Adekunle Ajasin University

holds a PhD in Psychology. He is a promising researcher in the Department of Pure and Applied Psychology at the Adekunle Ajasin University, PMB 001 Akungba-Akoko, 34-234 Ondo State, Nigeria (email: jobemmanuel92@gmail.com).

References

Uwak, U. E. and Udofia, A, N. (2016). Corruption in Nigeria’s public sector organizations and its implications for national development. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 7(3), 27 -35. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n3s1p27 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n3s1p27

Alatas, S. H. (1980). The sociology of corruption. Time Books.

Akinseye-George, Y. (2000). Legal system, corruption and governance in Nigeria. New Century Law Publishers.

Spector, B. (2011). Negotiating peace and confronting corruption. United States Institute of Peace Press.

van Duyne, P. C., & Harvey, J. H. (2021). Grand corruption in Nigeria: What can be learned from a review of cases? https://ace.globalintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/grand-corruption-in-nigeria-harvey-06-2021-1-1.pdf

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2019). Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and trends (second survey on corruption as experienced by the population). https://www.unodc.org/documents/nigeria/Corruption_Survey_2019.pdf

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project. (2018). Nigeria: Corruption perception survey. http://serap-nigeria.org/2019/03/26/police-most-corrupt-institution-in-nigeria-reveals-serap-survey/

Premium Times. (December 7, 2017). High-profile cases of corruption, financial crimes, and economic sabotage are being prosecuted by the Federal Government of Nigeria. https://media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2017/12/Final-copy-of-the-compiled-list-of-high-profile-corruption-cases.pdf

Human and Environmental Development Agenda. (2022). A compendium of 100 high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria. https://hedang.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/2022-Compendium-of-a-100-High-Profile-Corruption-Cases.pdf

Ajagun, S. O. (2010). ICPC and EFCC: Instruments of selective justice in Nigeria. Lwati: A Journal of Contemporary Research, 7(1), 277-284. https://doi.org/10.4314/lwati.v7i1.57495 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/lwati.v7i1.57495

Gong, T., & Wang, S. (2013). Indicators and implications of zero tolerance of corruption: The Case of Hong Kong. Social Indicators Research, 112(3), 569-586. https://doi.org/10.1007/s 11205-012-0071-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-012-0071-3

Bandura, A. (1991). Social cognitive theory of self-regulation. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Process, 50, 248–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90022-l DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90022-L

Bandura, A., Barbaranelli, C., Caprara, G. V., and Pastorelli, C. (1996). Mechanisms of moral disengagement in the exercise of moral agency. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 364–374. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.71.2.364 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.71.2.364

Wang, T., Cao, Z., Zhong, X., & Chen, C. (2021). Self-Regulation failure? The influence mechanism of leader reward omission on employee deviant behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 558293. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.558293

Bandura, A., & National Institute of Mental Health. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Prentice-Hall.

Moore, C. (2008). Moral disengagement in processes of organizational corruption. Journal of Business Ethics, 80, 129–139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9447-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9447-8

Moore, C., Detert, J. R., Trevino, L.K, Baker, V. L., & Mayer, D. M. (2012). Why employees do bad things: Moral disengagement and unethical organizational behavior. Personnel Psychology, 65(1), 1–48. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2011.01237.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2011.01237.x

Pozsgai‑Alvarez, J. (2022). Corruption tolerance as a process of moral, social, and political cognition: Evidence from Latin America. Crime, Law and Social Change, 77, 381–404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-021-09995-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-021-09995-6

Tanner C, Linder S, & Sohn. M (2022) Does moral commitment predict resistance to corruption? Experimental evidence from a bribery game. PLoS ONE, 17(1), e0262201. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262201 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262201

Ogungbamila, B. (2021). Relationship of punishment anxiety with corrupt tendencies in police personnel: Workplace neutralization and reward craving as moderators. ASUU Journal of Social Sciences: A Journal of Research and Development, 8(2), 1 – 34.

Bandura, A. (2002). Selective moral disengagement in the exercise of moral agency. Journal of Moral Education, 31(2), 101–119. https://doi.org/10.1080/0305724022014322 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0305724022014322

Barr, A., & Serra, D. (2010). Corruption and culture: An experimental analysis. Journal of Public Economics, 94(11–12), 862-869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2010.07.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2010.07.006

Park, H, & Blenkinsopp, J. (2009). Whistleblowing as planned behavior: A survey of South Korean police officers. Journal of Business Ethics, 85(4), 545-556. https://doi.org/10.1007/sl0551-008-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9788-y

Bayley, D., & Perito, R. (2011). Police corruption: What past scandals teach about current challenges. https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/wps/usip/0023772/f_0023772_19417.pdf

Singh, D. (2022). The causes of police corruption and working towards prevention in conflict-stricken states. Laws, 11, 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/laws 11050069 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/laws11050069

Ogungbamila, B. (2014). Whistleblowing and anti-corruption crusade: Evidence from Nigeria. Canadian Social Sciences, 10(4), 145-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/4680

Egboh, E. A., & Akobundu, K. G. (2020). Whistle-blowing policy and fight against corruption in Nigerian administrative system. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, IV(IX). 282 – 291.

Eme, O. I., & Orji, R. O. (2021). Strengthening whistle-blowing policy as an anti-corruption mechanism in Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative Development and Policy Studies, 9(3),134-143.

Onuegbulam, O. (2017). Whistle-blowing policy and the fight against corruption in Nigeria: Implications for criminal justice and the due process. Nnamdi Azikiwe University Journal of Law and International Jurisprudence, 8(2), 174 – 179.

Stewart, A.O. (2020). War against corruption and the whistleblowing policy: The Nigerian experience (2015-2019). Port Harcourt Journal of History & Diplomatic Studies, 7(2), 391 – 414.

Moldogazi, T. T., & Liu, C. (2020) Public sector corruption and perceived government performance in transition. Governance, 34(2), 475-504. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12519 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.12519

Johnson, R. A. (2003), Whistleblowing: When it works and why. Lynne Rienner Publishers. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781685857264

Transparency International. (2012). Empowering citizens, securing lasting change: Blowing the whistle on corruption. https://www.transparency.org/files/content/activity/2013_Whistleblowing_SupportOurWork_EN.pdf

Awogu, C. O., Obilor, N. M., & Maduagwuna, R. E. (2021). Whistleblowing policy and the fight against corruption: implications for socio-economic development in Nigeria. African Journal of Social and Behavioural Sciences, 11(2), 383 – 392. https://journals.aphriapub.com/index.php/AJSBS/article/view/1357

Sehgal, P. (2014). Whistleblowers: traitors or heroes? Imperial College Press.

Bandura, A. (1999). Moral disengagement in the perpetuation of inhumanities. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 3(3), 193–209. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0303_3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0303_3

Basu, K., Basu, K., & Cordella, T. (2016). Asymmetric punishment as an instrument of corruption control. Journal of Public Economic Theory, 8(6), 831-856. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpet.12212 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpet.12212

Gillanders, R. (2016). Corruption and anxiety in Sub-Saharan Africa. Economics of Governance, 17, 47–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10101-015-0177-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10101-015-0177-6

Pedigo, K. L., & Marshall, V. (2009). Bribery: Australian managers’ experiences and responses when operating in international markets. Journal of Business Ethics, 87(1), 59-74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9870-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9870-5

Wiesenfeld, B. M. (1997). Procedural unfairness and managers surviving layoffs: Self-threat and coping in the context of organizational change. Social Justice Research, 10(2), 225-239. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02683314 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02683314

Birch, S., Allen, N., & Sarmiento-Mirwaldt, K. (2017). Anger, anxiety and corruption perceptions: Evidence from France. Political Studies, 65(4), 893–911. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032321717691294 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0032321717691294

Schlenker, B. R. (2008). Integrity and character: Implications of principled and expedient ethical ideologies. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 27(10), 1078–1125. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2008.27.10.1078 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2008.27.10.1078

Kura, K. M., Shamsudin, F. M., & Chauhan, A. (2015). Does self-regulatory efficacy matter? Effects of punishment certainty and punishment severity on organizational deviance. SAGE Open, April-June, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244015591822 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244015591822

Ogungbamila, B. (2017). An examination of the relationship between perceived injustice, workplace neutralization, and corrupt tendencies: A study on employees in Nigeria. South Asian Journal of Management, 24(3), 7-27.

Ogungbamila, A., Ogungbamila, B., & Ajileye, T. A. (2022). Perceived occupational risk predicting corruption tolerance in health workers: Mediatory roles of perceived organizational support. Paper presented at the National Congress and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Psychological Association held at the Aderemi Makanjuola Hall, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State between 23rd and 27th August 2022.

Schaefer, U., & Bouwmeester, O. (2021). Reconceptualizing moral disengagement as a process: transcending overly liberal and overly conservative practice in the field. Journal of Business Ethics, 172, 525–543. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-020-04520-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-020-04520-6

Sie, M. (2015). Moral hypocrisy and acting for reasons: How moralizing can invite self-deception. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 18, 223–235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-015-9574-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-015-9574-8

Wang, T., Cao, Z., Zhong, X., & Chen, C. (2021). Self-regulation failure? The influence mechanism of leader reward omission on employee deviant behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 558293. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.558293 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.558293

Chang, E. C. C., & Huang, S. (2016). Corruption experience, corruption tolerance, and institutional trust in East Asian democracies. Taiwan Journal of Democracy, 12(1), 27-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2014.11.031 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2014.11.031

Ogungbamila, B., & Ajagunna, F. A. (2023). When tolerance becomes healthy: Influence of corruption tolerance on psychological distress among employees in Nigeria. Trends in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-023-00326-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-023-00326-3

Ogungbamila, B. Folami, O. M., & Ogungbamila, A. (2022). Through the eye of the whistleblower: Some psychological factors predicting whistleblowing intentions cycle. Asian Journal of Behavioural Sciences, 4(2), 57-90. https://doi.org/10.55057/ajbs.2022.4.2.5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55057/ajbs.2022.4.2.5

Morgan, M. O., Okon, E. E., & Emu, W. H. (2019). A critique of the bureaucratic theory: The Nigerian civil service experience. Global Journal of Social Sciences, 18, 1-10. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjss.v18i1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/gjss.v18i1.1

Lee, H., Lim, H., Moore, D. D., & Kim, J. (2013). How police organizational structure correlates with frontline officers’ attitudes toward corruption: A multilevel model. Police Practice and Research, 14(5), 386-401. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2011.635483 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2011.635483

Downloads

Published

2024-05-01

How to Cite

Ogungbamila, B., Osamika, B. E., & Job, E. D. (2024). Whistleblowing and Corrupt Tendencies among Selected Employees in Three Public Organizations: Roles of Corruption Tolerance, Punishment Anxiety, and Neutralization . Journal of Management Studies and Development, 3(02), 95–119. https://doi.org/10.56741/jmsd.v3i02.535

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 02 (2024): Journal of Management Studies and Development

Section

Articles

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Bolanle Ogungbamila, Bamidele Emmanuel Osamika, Emmanuel Dada Job

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

Plaudit