Numerous studies have delved into the boundary conditions surrounding the relationship between creativity and deviant behaviors from an individual’s moral standpoint. However, a dearth of research exists in scrutinizing the team-level moral context wherein creativity might potentially exhibit its dark side consequences. Grounded in social information processing theory (SIPT), this study investigates the mechanism by which self-focused collective moral judgment (SFCMJ) functions as a boundary condition influencing creative employees to engage in deviant behaviors. We used two studies where the samples were collected from architectural design and consulting industries. The findings suggest that creativity is positively correlated with deviant behavior only when SFCMJ is high. Moreover, this study unveils that Machiavellianism acts as a mediator in the moderating effect of SFCMJ on the connection between creativity and deviant behavior. Theoretical and practical implications stemming from these research findings, along with potential avenues for future investigations, are also discussed.
Yu et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: