A Proposed Conceptual Model of Destructive Deviance: The Mediator Role of Moral Disengagement

Effectiveness and efficiency have always been one of the main concerns for organizations. These concepts are commonly used for processes, products, machineries, etc. However, it is obvious that these concepts are also related with the employees and their behaviors. Given the organizations’ profit maximization policies, the employee related efficiency losses has been an important concern. At this point, because of its harmful effects, the presence of destructive deviant workplace behaviors is a pivotal factor for organizations. Destructive deviant workplace behaviors are one of the most striking negative behaviors, which threaten the wellbeing of organization as a whole. This paper provides a proposed model on some rarely studied predictors (i.e. careerism, relativism, Machiavellianism and moral disengagement) of destructive deviant workplace behaviors, where moral disengagement plays a mediator role. Managerial and further research implications are also discussed.