Big Five personality predictors of moral disengagement: A comprehensive aspect-level approach

Abstract

Research in unethical behaviour has highlighted the role of moral disengagement as one of its main predictors. Even though extant research has studied trait moral disengagement in the context of Big Five personality domains, no studies have explored the contribution of within- domain aspects. In three studies (N = 663) we found associations between Big Five personality factors and moral disengagement that highlight the primary role of Agreeableness (and its aspects politeness and compassion), but also implicate assertiveness and volatility. Furthermore, we found that moral disengagement significantly accounted for the effects of domains Agreeableness and Openness/Intellect, and aspects polit..