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Ascenso, I., Moriconi, M. & Sousa, L. (2026). ‘Do as I Say, Not as I Do’: Understanding Moral Rationalisations and Disengagements Behind ‘Parochial’ Corrupt Actions. Public Integrity. 1-26

M. I. Ascenso et al.,  "‘Do as I Say, Not as I Do’: Understanding Moral Rationalisations and Disengagements Behind ‘Parochial’ Corrupt Actions", in Public Integrity, pp. 1-26, 2026

@article{ascenso2026_1787998432821,
	author = "Ascenso, I. and Moriconi, M. and Sousa, L.",
	title = "‘Do as I Say, Not as I Do’: Understanding Moral Rationalisations and Disengagements Behind ‘Parochial’ Corrupt Actions",
	journal = "Public Integrity",
	year = "2026",
	volume = "",
	number = "",
	doi = "10.1080/10999922.2026.2706991",
	pages = "1-26",
	url = "https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10999922.2026.2706991"
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - ‘Do as I Say, Not as I Do’: Understanding Moral Rationalisations and Disengagements Behind ‘Parochial’ Corrupt Actions
T2  - Public Integrity
AU  - Ascenso, I.
AU  - Moriconi, M.
AU  - Sousa, L.
PY  - 2026
SP  - 1-26
SN  - 1099-9922
DO  - 10.1080/10999922.2026.2706991
UR  - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10999922.2026.2706991
AB  - Although people overwhelmingly reject corruption in principle, they often tolerate
or even engage in it in their daily lives across many countries. Existing
research suggests that people may do so because of strong social norms or out
of necessity. Building on theories of moral disengagement and rationalisations of
corruption, this paper examines how individuals make sense of engaging in corrupt
practices they may disapprove of, focusing on the misalignment between
injunctive norms (what people ought to do) and descriptive norms (what people
do). The study investigates “parochial” corruption in Portugal, a widespread but
normatively disapproved practice. Using survey data and focus group discussions,
the findings reveal that while ‘parochial’ corruption is generally undesirable,
individuals feel compelled to engage due to a perception that ‘everyone does it’,
and that corruption is an effective path to overcome systemic shortcomings.
Depending on the context, the corrupt action is not judged primarily as corruption
and is justifiable through moral disengagement strategies, which unfold in a
dynamic process. By providing empirical evidence of how corruption is rationalised
in situations of normative conflict, this study contributes to corruption, social
norms, and moral disengagement research, while offering insights regarding contexts
where corruption is simultaneously condemned and condoned.
ER  -