Psychological distance may impact individual’s ability to establish an ethical intent when confronted with specific goals. We have conducted one experimental study through which we manipulated goal specificity (“do your best” goals vs. specific goals) and psychological distance (low vs. high). Additionally, we controlled the effect of moral disengagement in this relationship since people tend to rationalize their decisions in order to justify or obscure their own responsibility in unethical behaviours. Results suggest that goal specificity and psychological distance are determinant in individual ethical decision-making. This study provides a better understanding of the impact of goal setting on ethical behaviour. Specifically, the results suggest that managers should pay greater attention to the way they inform organizational members about their goals.

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Ethical decision-making, goal-setting procedure, construal-level theory, psychological distance, moral disengagement