Sweatshop labor is wrong unless the jeans are cute
Subtitle: motivated moral disengagement
By: Neeru Paharia, Rohit Deshpandé
Contributors: Deshpande, Rohit; Harvard Business School
Series: Working paper / Harvard Business School -- 09-079; Working paper (Harvard Business School) -- 09-079
Publisher: Harvard Business School
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Boston]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 27
Description: While many consumers say they care about issues such as sweatshop labor, the existence of a very small market for ethically-produced products does not reflect this sentiment. One explanation for this discrepancy is that consumers are motivated to use moral disengagement strategies to reduce cognitive dissonance when their desire for a product conflicts with their moral standards. In two studies we show levels of moral disengagement can vary based on one's desire for a product when sweatshop labor is present. Furthermore, we present evidence for a mediated moderation where beliefs about sweatshop labor use moderates the impact of desirability on purchase intention, and moral disengagement mediates this process. Motivated mechanisms of moral disengagement are relevant in moral psychology, and have public policy implications.
Notes: "January 2009"--Publisher's website.

Includes bibliographical references.