Bank Branch Study Reveals Which Workplace Values Fuel or Fight Unethical

A new Brazilian bank study suggests unethical workplace behavior is shaped less by individual morality and more by organizational values. Published in Trends in Psychology, the research analyzed survey data from 713 employees across 210 bank branches. It found that cultures emphasizing harmony and egalitarianism were consistently linked to lower levels of unethical behavior. By contrast, a “mastery” culture—rooted in dominance and competitive self-assertion—correlated with more unethical conduct. The study, led by Juliana Barreiros Porto of the University of Brasília with co-authors Marília Mesquita Resende, Katia Puente-Palacios and Catherine T. Kwantes, uses a Schwartz-based values framework adapted for organizations.