The Social Implications of Punishing Unethical Behavior: Observers' Cognitive and Affective Reactions

This experiment investigated how punishment of varying severity (no punishment, appropriate punishment, and harsh punishment) in response to unethical organizational behavior influenced observers' outcome expectancies, justice evaluations, and emotional responses. Results suggested that only the harshest disciplinary response influenced outcome expectancies. In addition, observers' justice evaluations and emotional responses were generally most positive in the harshest vicarious punishment condition. Implications for future research and management practice are discussed.