The immorality of illegal downloading: The role of anticipated guilt and general emotions

To extend previous cognition-based illegal downloading research, this project postulates that anticipated guilt, general emotions, attitudes, and norms collectively determine intentions to download digital files illegally. Our findings indicate that college students were more likely to download if they had more favorable attitudes, perceived greater social approval, and perceived more control over illegal downloading. More importantly, this study reveals that college students generally felt a low level of anticipated guilt toward illegal downloading. Anticipated guilt was a significant, negative predictor of intentions to download among those who engaged in illegal downloading in the previous 6 months, but not among those did not. General anticipated emotions predicted intentions to download among the whole sample. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

► This research examined both cognitive and emotional determinants of illegal downloading.
► Anticipated guilt negatively predicted intentions to download among recent downloaders.
► Anticipated positive emotions positively predicted intentions to download among all participants.
► Attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control predicted intentions to download.