Motivations for Ethical Behavior

PUNISHMENT/REWARD

This is the most basic motivator for ethical behavior, and is closely tied to the first developmental stage, duality.  Most of the legal rules fall into this category.  People at this level evaluate the relative punishment or reward proceeding with an action.  The punishment or reward reward before proceeding with an action. The punishment or reward associated with the act gives the individual an idea of how right or wrong something is. For example, murder must be a more significant wrong than jaywalking. The punishment for the former may be the gas chamber, versus a small monetary fine for the latter.

Mitchell & Scott  propose "...needed reforms exist in the legal arena.... The direct linking of consequences to action is a very strong regulator of behavior especially when appropriate and inappropriate behaviors are clearly stated and the former is rewarded while the latter is punished. Individual and organizations that act unselfishly in the long-run interests of others should be recognized and rewarded."


PEER PRESSURE

This factor can be either a motivation for or against ethical conduct.  An individual influenced by peer pressure is between the developmental stages of duality and relativism. He is still seeking input from peers to determine the relative weights of punishment or reward. But he is also attempting to balance the different view points of the peer group.

SOCIETAL COOPERATION

The individual at the second level, relativism, now sees different perspectives as having equal validity. This motivation also fluctuates between the libertarian ("live and let live") and reciprocal ("win-win") philosophies. The individual perceives the value of acting in a certain manner, with the anticipation that others will act in a similar fashion.

SELF-REALIZATION/SELF-ACTUALIZATION

The person motivated by self-realization has reached the ultimate level. The goal for ethical behavior is now internally derived.  From Aristotle's teachings, the path to happiness is found by developing character through virtues, such as courage, temperance, etc.   He proposed the ultimate goal of human behavior is to be happy, and that fulfillment could be attained by overcoming life's traumas. Similarly, Immanuel Kant professed that "freedom is autonomy," and that each person should set his own rules by which to live. Once an individual has reached a certain maturity, his actions are governed by a personal commitment (the final stage) to internally developed values.

It is interesting to note some parallels between the motivations for ethical behavior described above and Maslow's "Hierarchy of Human Needs." The punishment/reward stimulus appears to coincide most closely to those trying to meet physiological and security needs. Peer pressure corresponds to affiliation needs. Societal cooperation is an effective inducement to those seeking status, or the respect of others. And finally, there is a direct correlation at the self-realization and self-actualization levels.

One might question the validity of this proposed correlation. If one is wealthy and of stature, such as an executive, government official, or minister, why are they not at the third, or at least second, stage of ethical development? Quite simply, everyone has different definitions of minimum levels of acceptable norms. One who has acquired wealth may act in a duality fashion to protect physiological and security standards, etc. Each person will attempt to rationalize his or her actions by use of one (or more) of the pretexts listed in the next section.