Role Morality | Concepts Unwrapped

Summary

The script explores how organizational and psychological pressures can lead people to act unethically, even against their personal morals. Examples include a doctor hiding a critical medical condition to protect an insurance company's interests and retail employees feeling pressured to push credit cards. This behavior is tied to 'role morality,' where individuals justify harmful actions by claiming they are just fulfilling their roles. It warns against separating personal ethics from work responsibilities, emphasizing the need for integrity and ethical practices, especially in corporate environments.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Organizational and psychological pressures can lead people to act unethically, even if they are otherwise good people.
• ⚖️ In a lawsuit case, a doctor withheld information about a life-threatening brain aneurysm from the plaintiff to protect the insurance company’s interests.
• 💼 This behavior is an example of 'role morality,' where people act in ways that they wouldn't normally consider ethical, due to their professional roles.
• 📊 Role morality allows people to justify unethical actions when they are acting on behalf of their employer or client.
• 🏢 In corporations, employees may separate their personal beliefs from the ethical standards of their workplace, acting based on what their superiors expect.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Family businesses tend to act more responsibly compared to large corporations, as they prioritize their family’s reputation.
• 🌍 After World War II, Albert Speer justified his role in the Nazi regime by viewing himself as an 'administrator,' separating his actions from moral responsibility.
• 💳 A retail employee described feeling pressured to convince customers to open credit cards, with some co-workers exploiting non-English speakers in the process.
• 🧍 Some workers view unethical actions as part of their job, feeling detached from personal responsibility as they align with their employers' goals.
• 🚦 Despite pressure to take shortcuts, ethical actions and staying true to one’s moral code are seen as ways to achieve long-term success.

Q & A

What is role morality as described in the script?

Role morality is the ethical concept where individuals feel that actions that would typically be considered wrong are permissible because they are fulfilling a specific role, such as representing an employer or client.

Why did the doctor in the insurance case withhold information about the plaintiff's brain aneurysm?

The doctor withheld the information because revealing it would have disadvantaged the insurance company’s defense. The doctor prioritized the financial interests of the insurance company over the plaintiff’s well-being.

What pressures can lead people to act unethically in a professional setting?

Organizational and psychological pressures, such as the need to meet expectations from superiors or fear of losing one’s job, can cause people to act in ways that they would consider unethical in personal contexts.

How does Kelly describe role morality in her experience working in retail?

Kelly explains that while working in retail, she felt pressured to sell store credit cards to customers, even though she felt guilty about pushing these products. The pressure from her employer made her actions seem necessary, even if they conflicted with her personal ethics.

What did Robert Jackall’s study reveal about corporate morality?

Robert Jackall’s study revealed that many employees in corporations separate their personal beliefs from the ethics required at work. In corporations, what is considered 'right' is often determined by what superiors expect, not personal moral standards.

What unethical behavior did Kelly’s coworker engage in?

Kelly's coworker targeted non-English-speaking customers, misleading them into believing that signing up for a credit card was a required part of the checkout process.

How did Albert Speer justify his role in the Nazi regime according to the script?

Albert Speer justified his involvement in the Nazi regime by viewing himself merely as an 'administrator,' which allowed him to distance himself from the human consequences of his actions, including the Holocaust.

Why are family businesses more likely to act ethically according to the script?

Family businesses are more likely to act ethically because the family name is tied to the business, making owners and employees more motivated to act in ways that reflect well on the family.

What is a key challenge of maintaining personal ethics in larger corporations?

A key challenge in larger corporations is that employees often feel it is easier to separate their personal morals from their professional role, aligning their actions with the corporation’s goals rather than their own ethical beliefs.

What advice does Megan offer about ethical behavior in the workplace?

Megan advises that if someone feels they are becoming less ethical over time, they need to make a change. She emphasizes that while shortcuts may seem beneficial, doing things the right way will ultimately lead to success.