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“Why are the Corrupt, Corrupt?”: The Multilevel Analytical Model of Corruption

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2020

João Gabriel Modesto Open the ORCID record for João Gabriel Modesto [Opens in a new window]  and
Ronaldo Pilati Open the ORCID record for Ronaldo Pilati [Opens in a new window]
João Gabriel Modesto*
Affiliation:
Centro Universitário de Brasília (Brazil) Universidade Estadual de Goiás (Brazil)
Ronaldo Pilati
Affiliation:
Universidade de Brasília (Brazil)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to João Gabriel Modesto. Centro Universitário de Brasília, Faculdade de Psicologia. 70790–075. Brasília, DF, Brazil. E-mail: jg.modesto@gmail.com
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Abstract

Corruption is a global problem. Despite the importance of this theme, a shortage of theoretical models in both psychology and related areas that favor its understanding and investigation is noted. Due to this scarcity of theoretical models, in addition to the need to systematize studies on the topic, this theoretical article aims to describe the Analytical Model of Corruption (AMC) as an interdisciplinary and multilevel proposal aimed at corruption analysis. To achieve this goal, the concept of corruption was analyzed using related phenomena as reference. Similarities and differences in corruption have been identified with dishonest behavior and unethical behavior. Subsequently, theoretical models on corruption identified in the literature were presented, and their main characteristics and limitations were pointed out. After describing the models, the AMC was presented and its advantages over the previous models were discussed. Finally, it was concluded that the AMC could be configured as a theoretical model that guides interdisciplinary studies on corruption, allowing for a more complete analysis compared to previous theoretical models identified in the literature.

Keywords

corruptiondishonest behaviormultilevel modelunethical behavior
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 23 , 2020 , e5
Copyright
© Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2020

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Footnotes

The study was supported by the Grant 308268/2016-4 of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for the second author.

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