TY - JOUR T1 - The Relationship Between Love of Money and Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior: The Moderating Role of Moral Identity AU - Cengiz, Hayri PY - 2025 DA - December Y2 - 2025 DO - 10.30798/makuiibf.1663167 JF - Journal of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Economics and Administrative Sciences Faculty JO - MAKU IIBFD PB - Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University WT - DergiPark SN - 2149-1658 SP - 1467 EP - 1492 VL - 12 IS - 4 LA - en AB - This research aims to investigate the relationship between the love of money and unethical pro-organizational behavior, and to evaluate the moderating role of moral identity traits in this relationship. In this context, the convenience sampling method was employed, and data were collected from 410 private sector employees through online questionnaires. SPSS and AMOS programs were used to analyze the data obtained, and in the process of testing the hypotheses, path analysis with the observed variables was performed with AMOS. According to the results, a significant and positive relationship has been revealed between the love of money and unethical pro-organizational behaviors. When the moderating role of moral identity in this relationship was examined, it was found that the internalization dimension of moral identity did not have a significant moderating role on the relationship between love of money and unethical pro-organizational behaviors, while the symbolization dimension of moral identity had a significant moderating role on the relationship between love of money and unethical pro-organizational behaviors. When the results are examined in detail, where the symbolization trait was high, it was revealed that the love of money increased, and unethical pro-organizational behaviors also increased. At the same time, no significant change occurred in this relationship when the symbolization feature was low. KW - Love of Money KW - Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior KW - Moral Identity KW - Moderating Role CR - Abedi, G., Rostami, F., & Nadi, A. (2015). Analyzing the dimensions of the quality of life in hepatitis b patients using confirmatory factor analysis. Global Journal of Health Science, 7, 22-31. https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v7n7p22 CR - Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Prentice Hall. Akgündüz, Y. (2021). Örgütsel davranış teorileri. Nobel Yayıncılık. CR - Alqhaiwi, Z. O., Koburtay, T., & Syed, J. (2023). The interplay between Islamic work ethic, unethical pro behaviors, and moral identity internalization: The moderating role of religiosity. Journal of Business Ethics, 193(2), 393-408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-023-05527-5 CR - Aquino, K., & Reed, A. (2002). The self-importance of moral identity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 1423-1440. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.83.6.1423 CR - Aquino, K., Freeman, D., Reed II, A., Lim, V. K., & Felps, W. (2009). Testing a social-cognitive model of moral behavior: The interactive influence of situations and moral identity centrality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97(1), 123–141. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015406 CR - Aquino, K., Reed II, A., Thau, S., & Freeman, D., (2007). A grotesque and dark beauty: How moral identity and mechanisms of moral disengagement influence cognitive and emotional reactions to war. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 43(3), 385–392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2006.05.013 CR - Aquino, K., Reed, A. II, Stewart, M., & Shapiro, D. (2005). Self-regulatory identity theory and reactions toward fairness enhancing organizational policies. In S. W. Gilliland, D. D. Steiner, D. P. Skarlicki, & K. Van den Bos (Ed.), What motivates fairness in organizations? Research in social issues in management (pp. 129–148). Information Age Publishing. CR - Bakan, İ., Şekkeli, Z. H., & Bakan, M. (2022). Presenteizm, kişisel başarı güdüsü, para sevgisi, ücretten tatmin ve iş tatmini arasındaki ilişkiye yönelik ampirik bir çalışma. Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 19(2), 723-739. https://doi.org/10.33437/ksusbd.1145300 CR - Bandura A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84(2), 191-215. CR - Belle, N., & Cantarelli, P. (2017). What causes unethical behavior? A meta-analysis to set an agenda for public administration research, Public Administration Review, 77(3), 327-339. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.12714 CR - Bergman, R. (2002). Why be moral? A conceptual model from developmental psychology. Human Development, 45, 104–124. https://doi.org/10.1159/000048157 CR - Blasi, A. (1984). Morality, moral behavior and moral development. In J. Gewirtz, & W. Kurtines (Eds.), Moral identity: Its role in moral functioning (p. 128–139). Wiley. CR - Blau, P. M. (1964). Exchange and power in social life. John Wiley & Sons. Bryant, W., & Merritt, S. M. (2021). Unethical pro-organizational behavior and positive leader employee CR - relationships. Journal of Business Ethics, 168, 777-793. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04211-x CR - Büyüköztürk, Ş., Çokluk, Ö., & Köklü, N. (2005). Sosyal bilimler için istatistik (24. baskı). Pegem Yayınları. CR - Castille, C. M., Buckner, J. E., & Thoroughgood, C. N. (2018). Prosocial citizens without a moral compass? Examining the relationship between Machiavellianism and unethical pro-organizational behavior. Journal of Business Ethics, 149(4), 919–930. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3079-9 CR - Cengiz, H. (2025). Para sevgisi ölçeğinin Türkçe uyarlaması: Geçerlilik ve güvenilirlik çalışması, BMIJ, 13(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.15295/bmij.v13i1.2468 CR - Chen, J., Tang, T., & Tang, N. (2014). Temptation, monetary intelligence (Love of Money), and environmental context on unethical intentions and cheating. Journal of Business Ethics, 123, 197-219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-013-1783-2 CR - Chen, Y. J., & Tang, T. L. P. (2006), Attitude toward and propensity to engage in unethical behavior: Measurement invariance across major among university students, Journal of Business Ethics, 69, 77-93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9069-6 CR - Coşkun, A. (2017). Ahlaki kimlik ve makyavelizmin örgüt yararına ahlaki olmayan davranış üzerinde etkisi: Ahlaki iklimin düzenleyici rolü. [Unpublished Master's Thesis]. İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi. CR - Coşkun, R., Altunışık, R., & Yıldırım, E. (2015). Sosyal bilimlerde araştırma yöntemleri SPSS uygulamalı. Sakarya Yayıncılık. CR - Ding, W., Xie, R., Sun, B., Li, W., Wang, D., & Zhen, R. (2016). Why does the “sinner” act prosocially? The mediating role of guilt and the moderating role of moral identity in motivating moral cleansing. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01317 CR - Fehr, R., Welsh, D., Yam, K. C., Baer, M., Wei, W., & Vaulont, M. (2019). The role of moral decoupling in the causes and consequences of unethical pro-organizational behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 153, 27–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2019.05.007 CR - Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention, and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. CR - Forza, C., & Flippini, R. (1998). Tqm impact on quality conformance and customer satisfaction: A causal model. International Journal of Production Economics, 55(1), 1-20. CR - Garbinsky, E., Gladstone, J., Nikolova, H., & Olson, J. (2019). Love, lies, and money: Financial infidelity in romantic relationships. Journal of Consumer Research. 47(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucz052 CR - Graham, K., Resick, C., Margolis, J., Shao, P., Hargis, M., & Kiker, J. (2020). Egoistic norms, organizational identification, and the perceived ethicality of unethical pro-organizational behavior: A moral maturation perspective. Human Relations, 73, 1249 – 1277. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726719862851 CR - Greenbaum, R., Hill, A., Mawritz, M., & Quade, M. (2017). Employee machiavellianism to unethical behavior. Journal of Management, 43, 585- 609. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206314535434 CR - Gürbüz, S. (2019). AMOS ile yapısal eşitlik modellemesi. Seçkin Yayıncılık. CR - Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2019). Multivariate data analysis. Cengage. CR - Hair, J. F., William, C. B., Barry, J. B., & Rolph, E. A. (2013). Multivariate data analysis. Pearson Education Limited. CR - Hardy, S. A., & Carlo, G. (2005). Identity as a source of moral motivation. Human Development, 48, 232-56. CR - Hardy, S. A., & Carlo, G. (2011). Moral identity: What is it, how does it develop, and is it linked to moral action. Child Development Perspectives, 5, 212–218. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-8606.2011.00189.x CR - Harman, H. H. (1960). Modern factor analysis. The University of Chicago Press. CR - Hertz, S. G., & Krettenauer, T. (2016). Does moral identity effectively predict moral behavior? A meta-analysis. Review of General Psychology, 20(2), 129–140. https://doi.org/10.1037/gpr0000062 CR - Ilıksu, Ö. (2022). Para aşkı ve bireysel kültürel değerlerin tüketicinin etik inanışlarına etkisi: Ankara ilinde bir araştırma, International Social Mentality and Researcher Thinkers Journal, 8(58), 731-744. https://doi.org/10.29228/smryj.61969 CR - Kalfaoğlu, A. (2022). Algılanan örgütsel politika ile sapkın davranışlar arasındaki ilişkide çalışanın ahlaki kimliğin düzenleyici rolü. [Unpublished Master's Thesis]. Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli Üniversitesi. CR - Khushk, A., Zengtian, Z., & Hui, Y. (2022). Holistic view of unethical pro-organizational behavior: Literature review. Organizational Psychology, 12(3), 168-181. https://doi.org/10.17323/2312-5942-2022-12-3-168-181 CR - Kürü, A, S. (2022). Örgüt yararına etik olmayan davranışlar: Bir ölçek uyarlama çalışması, Üçüncü Sektör Sosyal Ekonomi Dergisi, 57(1), 409-426. https://doi.org/10.15659/3.sektor-sosyal-ekonomi.22.02.1724 CR - Lee, A., Schwarz, G., Newman, A., & Legood, A. (2019). Investigating when and why psychological entitlement predicts unethical pro-organizational behavior. Journal of Business Ethics, 154(1), 109–126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3456-z CR - Liu, B. C., & Tang, T. L. P. (2011). Does the love of money moderate the relationship between public service motivation and job satisfaction? The case of Chinese professionals in the public sector. Public Administration Review, 71(5), 718–727. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2011.02411.x CR - Liu, W., Zhu, Y., Chen, S., Zhang, Y., & Qin, F. (2021). Moral decline in the workplace: Unethical pro-organizational behavior, psychological entitlement, and leader gratitude expression. Ethics & Behavior, 32, 110-123. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2021.1987909 CR - Lu, L., Huang, Y., & Luo, J. (2021). Leader forgiveness and employee’s unethical pro-organizational behavior: The roles of gratitude and moral identity''. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.698802 CR - Matherne, C. F., & Litchfield, S. R. (2012). Investigating the relationship between affective commitment and unethical pro-organizational behaviors: The role of moral identity. Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics,9, 35–46. CR - Mesdaghinia, S., Rawat, A., & Nadavulakere, S. (2018). Why moral followers quit: Examining the role of leader bottom-line mentality and unethical pro-leader behavior. Journal of Business Ethics, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-3812-7 CR - Miao, Q., Newman, A., Yu, J., & Xu, L. (2013). The relationship between ethical leadership and unethical pro-organizational behavior: Linear or curvilinear effects? Journal of Business Ethics, 116(3), 641–653. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1504-2 CR - Mishra, M., Ghosh, K., & Sharma, D. (2021). Unethical pro-organizational behavior: A systematic review and future research agenda. Journal of Business Ethics, 179, 63–87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04764-w CR - Mitchell, T.R., & Mickel, A.E. (1999). The meaning of money: An individual-difference perspective, Academy of Management Review, 24(3), 568-578. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1999.2202138 CR - Mumcu, A. (2022). Etik liderliğin örgütsel özdeşleme üzerindeki etkisinde ahlaki kimliğin düzenleyici rolü, Alanya Akademik Bakış, 6(1), 1719-1737. https://doi.org/10.29023/alanyaakademik.1017956 CR - Nakıp, M. (2024). The relationship between perceived organizational justice, moral identity, cwb, and perceived organizational support. [Unpublished Master's Thesis]. Yasar University. CR - Pekdemir, I. M., & Turan, A. (2015). The relationships among love of money, machiavellianism and unethical behavior. Canadian Social Science, 11(6), 48-59. CR - Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J. Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879-903. https://doi.org/10.1037/00219010.88.5.879 CR - Rahman, F. (2020). The relationships among love of money and unethical behaviour. Journal of Contemporary Accounting, 2(3), 141–150. https://doi.org/10.20885/jca.vol2.iss3.art3 CR - Reynolds, S. J., & Ceranic, T. L. (2007). The effects of moral judgment and moral identity on moral behavior: An empirical examination of the moral individual. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(6), 1610-1624. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.92.6.1610 CR - Singhapakdi, A., Vitell, S., Lee, D., Nisius, A., & Yu, G. (2013). The influence of love of money and religiosity on ethical decision-making in marketing. Journal of Business Ethics, 114, 183-191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1334-2 CR - Steele, L. M., Rees, R., & Berry, C. M. (2023). The role of self-interest in unethical pro-organizational behavior: A nomological network meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 109(3), 362–385. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0001139 CR - Tacke, F., Knockaert, M., Patzelt, H., & Breugst, N. (2023). When do greedy entrepreneurs exhibit unethical pro-organizational behavior? The role of new venture team trust. Journal of Management, 49, 974- 1004. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063211067517 CR - Tang, T. (2007). Income and quality of life: Does the love of money make a difference? Journal of Business Ethics, 72, 375-393. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9176-4 CR - Tang, T. L. P. (1992). The meaning of money revisited, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 13, 197-202. CR - Tang, T. L. P., & Chen, Y. J. (2008). Intelligence vs. wisdom: The love of money, Machiavellianism, and unethical behavior across college major and gender. Journal of Business Ethics, 82, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9559-1 CR - Tang, T. L. P., Kim, J.K., & Tang, D.S.H. (2000). Does attitude towards money moderate the relationship between intrinsic job satisfaction and voluntary turnover? Human Relations, 53(2), 213-245. https://doi.org/10.1177/a010560 CR - Tang, T., & Chiu, R. (2003). Income, money ethic, pay satisfaction, commitment, and unethical behavior: Is the love of money the root of evil for Hong Kong employees? Journal of Business Ethics, 46, 13-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-15453-9.00013-9 CR - Tavşancıl, E. (2006). Tutumların ölçülmesi ve SPSS ile veri analizi. Nobel Yayıncılık. CR - Ülkü, T., & Polatcı, S. (2023). Kurumsal dünyada karanlık ve aydınlık taraf: Kişilik özelliklerinin etik olmayan örgüt yanlısı davranışlar üzerindeki etkisinin keşfi. Sosyal Mucit Academic Review, 4(4), 503-531. https://doi.org/10.54733/smar.1388417 CR - Ulu, S. (2021). Örgütsel davranış şimdi bu konular konuşuluyor. In F. Üstün & A. İ. K. Ballı (Eds.), Yaptım ama bir sor niye yaptım! Örgüt yanlısı etik olmayan davranışlar (p.1-27). Detay Yayıncılık. CR - Umphress, E. E., & Bingham, J. B. (2011). When employees do bad things for good reasons: Examining unethical pro-organizational behaviors. Organization. Science, 22, 621–640. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1100.0559 CR - Umphress, E. E., Bingham, J., & Mitchell, M. S. (2010). Unethical behavior in the name of the company. Journal of Applied Psychology, 95, 769–780. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019214 CR - Veetikazhi, R., Kamalanabhan, T., Malhotra, P., Arora, R., & Mueller, A. (2020). Unethical employee behaviour: A review and typology. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 33, 1976- 2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2020.1810738 CR - Wang, D., Weng, Q., Kiani, A., & Ali, A. (2022). Job insecurity and unethical pro-organizational behavior: The joint moderating effects of moral identity and proactive personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 195, 111685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2022.111685 CR - Wang, T., Long, L., Zhang, Y., & He, W. (2019). A social exchange perspective of employee–organization relationships and employee unethical proorganizational behavior: The moderating role of individual moral identity. Journal of Business Ethics, 159, 473–489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-3782-9 CR - Wang, X., & Krumhuber, E. (2017). The love of money results in objectification. British Journal of Social Psychology, 56, 354–372. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12158 CR - Wang, Y., Xiao, S., & Ren, R. (2021). A moral cleansing process: How and when does unethical pro-organizational behavior increase prohibitive and promotive voice. Journal of Business Ethics, 176, 175 - 193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-020-04697-w CR - Yang, N., Lin, C., Liao, Z., & Xue, M. (2021). When moral tension begets cognitive dissonance: An investigation of responses to unethical pro-organizational behavior and the contingent effect of construal level. Journal of Business Ethics, 180, 339-353. CR - Yayla, H. E., Özbek, M. F., Topal, M. H., & Cengiz, E., (2009). Para sevgisinin vergi ahlakı üzerindeki etkisi, Muhasebe ve Vergi Uygulamaları Dergisi, 2, 51-78. CR - Ye, Y., Liu, P., & Zhang, L. (2024). Customer mistreatment and unethical pro-organizational behavior: A daily diary study examining the roles of status threat. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 36(6), 2125-2143. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijchm-01-2023-0021 CR - Yılmaz, A. G. F., & Yılmaz A. G. F. (2015). Ahlaki kimlik ölçeği Türkçe formunun geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 13(4). 111-134. https://doi.org/10.18026/cbusos.35372 CR - Yılmaz, Ş. Ö. (2023). Kronizmin pozitif psikolojik sermaye üzerine etkisinde ahlaki kimliğin düzenleyici rolü. [Unpublished Master's Thesis]. Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University. UR - https://doi.org/10.30798/makuiibf.1663167 L1 - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4714367 ER -