The Impact of Moral Intensity Dimensions on Ethical Decision-making: Assessing the Relevance of Orientation

Much of the research on ethical decision-making incorporates the idea that the characteristics of the moral issue will influence the decision being made (Jones, 1991). The present study tests the influence of three of these characteristics on the ethical decision-making process, namely concentration of effect, probability of effect, and proximity. In addition, the orientation of the decision-maker in the situation was considered. Findings suggest that only proximity influenced the moral judgment of an individual, and even its impact becomes less relevant as the situation moves from an individual to an organizational orientation.