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Abstract
Two studies were conducted aimed at identifying the dynamics which contribute to corrupt behavior. Study 1 was a correlational study of994 senior high school students (457 males, 537 females; 426 from North Sumatera, 568 from West Kalimantan; Mage=15.93 years, SDage=1.123 years), with a data analysis technique of structural equation modelling, to test the significance of the role of the counterfeit self (predictor) as well as an ethical mindset and self-theory (moderator candidates), in predicting moral disengagement (the dependent variable of Study 1, as the proxy of corruption behavior). Study 2 was a quasi-experimental study of 154 university students in Jakarta (68 men, 86 women; Mage=19.167 years, SDage=1.476 years) to test the hypotheses of the moderating effects of an outcome-based ethical mindset and entity self-theory on the effects of the counterfeit self on corruption behavior (dependent variable Study 2, operationally defined as performance in a bribery game) with a data analysis technique of the two-way ANOVA. The results of these studies (Study 1 and Study 2) generally confirm the hypotheses proposed. This was the first time the corruption psychological theoretical model had been examined in Indonesia, based on performance in a corruption game.
Keywords: counterfeit self; inauthenticity; corruption; moral mindset; implicit theory
Introduction
Corruption is misappropriation of public authority for private interests, which harms the public by conduct in contravention with the prevailing law (Langseth, Stapenhurst, & Pope, 1997). From the psychological, cultural, and structural factors (e.g. Abraham & Pane, 2014), this present study emphasizes the psychological factor, because "moral behavior is consistent in many different ways, suggesting that personological factors substantially impact moral life" (Meindl, Jayawickreme, Furr, & Fleeson, 2015, p. 81). The personological factors which are the focus of in this present study are the self (especially the counterfeit self) and mindset (ethical mindset and self-theory) (Abraham, 2017). Counterfeit self-aspects are the personological dimensions which indicate the extent to which the individual feels separated from him/herself (Abraham, Takwin, & Suleeman, 2018; Wood, Linley, Maltby, Baliousis, & Joseph, 2008). Meanwhile, self-theory is a personological theory, which orientates judgments made about the character of the self and others (Hojbotă, 2014). Similarly, the ethical/moral mindset is a personological derivative of moral philosophy (Cornelissen, Bashshur, Rode, & Le Menestrel, 2013; Frimer & Walker, 2008), used by...