The Role of Character-based Determinants of Trust in CEO and Firm Impressions Following Transgressions: Differing Effects of Agentic vs. Communal Companies
Authors
Mueller, Steven Michael
Issue Date
2021
Type
Dissertation
Language
Keywords
Agency , Benevolence , Communion , Moral Outrage , Transgression , Trust
Alternative Title
Abstract
Large corporations like Facebook, Boeing, and Wells Fargo have an influential role in society and its wellbeing. When the leaders of these corporations commit acts of flagrant disregard for humanity, irreparable harm occurs. This dissertation seeks to understand the role of character-based trust: competence, benevolence, and integrity through the lens of attribution theory to assess differential attitudes and perceptions of a CEO and the firm following an unmitigated agentic transgression. Further, this dissertation will also examine whether these perceptions differ whether the company itself has an agentic (profit-oriented) or communal (people-oriented) orientation. Additionally, this dissertation assesses attitudes and behavioral intentions of stakeholders following an unmitigated agentic transgression, and the influence of two different theoretical underpinnings, benevolence and moral outrage.