Toward a more general theory of marketing ethics
Authors: Uslay Can 
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Ethical issues surround and permanently reside in the discipline of marketing and have been examined within multiple schools of thought. However, despite the prevalence of the topic and significant scholarly attention and theoretical development since the 1980s, the Hunt–Vitell general model has not been subject to a substantial revision in decades. This paper aims to undertake the significant task of augmenting and advancing the general theoretical framework of marketing ethics through a number of revisions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper synthesizes the conceptual and empirical work on marketing ethics to date to extend the seminal Hunt and Vitell (1986, 2006) model of marketing ethics.

Findings

The revised model expands upon the Hunt–Vitell model by incorporating additional factors that influence ethical decision-making in marketing. Key additions include cultural orientation, socialization, individual characteristics (relativism, demographics, goals, position), means, contracts, consumer sovereignty, self-respect, respect from others and context. These additions create a more comprehensive framework for understanding ethical behavior in marketing, enhancing the model’s validity and applicability.

Research limitations/implications

The paper offers numerous research avenues, including: 1. Examining how marketers and entrepreneurs make decisions, focusing on the alignment of their processes with ethical principles. 2. Revisiting research on gender and ethics, exploring the interplay of various social identities in ethical decision-making. 3. Developing new measures for personality traits like idealism and relativism within marketing and entrepreneurship contexts. 4. Investigating the impact of information availability and different types of information on consumer perceptions and ethical behavior. 5. Exploring the disconnect between ethical orientations of marketing managers and consumers. 6. Examining the influence of socialization processes on ethical orientations. 7. Incorporating psychological constructs like self-respect and desire for respect into models of ethical decision-making. 8. Conducting context-specific research to understand the relationship between ethical judgment and action. 9. Empirical testing using both vignettes and structural equation modeling to validate the model and explore its implications for both marketers and consumers, especially in the context of brand activism and public relations crises.

Practical implications

Practitioners should be mindful of how their actions and intentions influence ethical judgments. They should integrate ethical considerations into all aspects of business, including CSR initiatives and training. Promoting diversity and transparency fosters ethical decision-making and builds trust with consumers. Entrepreneurs should model ethical behavior, create an ethical culture and provide clear information about their practices.

Social implications

The revised model highlights the significant social implications of ethical decision-making in marketing and entrepreneurship. By considering not only the outcomes but also the means used to achieve them, businesses can avoid negative impacts on society. This includes prioritizing transparency, fairness and responsible practices. Understanding the influence of cultural, individual and contextual factors on ethical behavior can lead to more ethical business practices, ultimately contributing to a more just and sustainable society.

Originality/value

The revised model constitutes a meaningful improvement to the seminal Hunt–Vitell general model of marketing ethics. Seven new research propositions, a simplified measurement model, research and practitioner implications and an Appendix that offers an overview of four decades of marketing ethics research are also provided.