Agreement and Similarity in Self-Other Perceptions of Moral Character

Journal of Research in Personality, 47, 816-830, 2013

57 Pages Posted: 25 Apr 2014 Last revised: 26 Jun 2014

See all articles by Taya R. Cohen

Taya R. Cohen

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business

A. T. Panter

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill

Nazli Turan

Carnegie Mellon University

Lily Morse

Carnegie Mellon University - David A. Tepper School of Business

Yeonjeong Kim

Carnegie Mellon University - David A. Tepper School of Business

Date Written: August 21, 2013

Abstract

We surveyed well-acquainted dyads about two key moral character traits (Honesty-Humility, Guilt Proneness), as well as several other individual differences. We examined self-other agreement, similarity, assumed similarity, and similarity-free agreement (i.e., self-other agreement controlling for similarity and assumed similarity). Participants projected their own level of moral character onto their peers (i.e., moderately high assumed similarity), but were nonetheless able to judge moral character with reasonable accuracy (moderately high self-other agreement and similarity-free agreement), suggesting that moral character traits can be detected by well-acquainted others. Regardless of reporting method, Honesty-Humility and Guilt Proneness were correlated with delinquency, unethical decision making, and counterproductive work behavior, suggesting that unethical behavior is committed disproportionately by people with low levels of these character traits.

Keywords: moral character; observers; informants; self-other agreement; assumed similarity; Guilt Proneness; Shame Proneness; GASP; HEXACO; personality

Suggested Citation

Cohen, Taya R. and Panter, A. T. and Turan, Nazli and Morse, Lily and Kim, Yeonjeong, Agreement and Similarity in Self-Other Perceptions of Moral Character (August 21, 2013). Journal of Research in Personality, 47, 816-830, 2013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2428561

Taya R. Cohen (Contact Author)

Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business ( email )

5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
United States
4122686677 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.tepper.cmu.edu/our-faculty-and-research/about-our-faculty/faculty-profiles/tcohen/cohen-t

A. T. Panter

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill ( email )

102 Ridge Road
Chapel Hill, NC NC 27514
United States

Nazli Turan

Carnegie Mellon University ( email )

Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
United States

Lily Morse

Carnegie Mellon University - David A. Tepper School of Business ( email )

5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
United States

Yeonjeong Kim

Carnegie Mellon University - David A. Tepper School of Business ( email )

5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
65
Abstract Views
1,478
Rank
617,745
PlumX Metrics