Predicting Intended Unethical Behavior of Business Students

What is the likelihood that students would intend to act unethically in the work environment? The author measured business students' intended behavior for 4 hypothetical unethical situations by investigating the following determinants: belief toward the behavior, subjective norms (i.e., pressure), perceived behavioral control, perceived personal outcome (i.e., benefit), and perceived social acceptance by others. In an expanded intention model, belief was consistently the most powerful predictor of intent in all 4 situations. Perceived behavioral control, perceived personal outcome, and perceived social acceptance by others were moderately good predictors of intent. Subjective norms was the weakest predictor of intent. Assessing students' intended unethical behavior has implications for educators.