Koers 76(2) 2011:283-303
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The relationship between locus of control
and ethical behaviour among employees
in the financial sector
E. Boshoff & E.S. van Zyl
Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences
Department of Industrial Psychology
University of the Free State
BLOEMFONTEIN
E-mail: boshoffe@ufs.ac.za
vanzyles@ufs.ac.za
Abstract
The relationship between locus of control and ethical
behaviour among employees in the financial sector
Unethical behaviour is a rapidly escalating trend in the current
work situation, where – within organisations – there appears to
be a decrease in ethical behaviour at a national as well as
international level. Employees within the financial sector form a
specific area of interest concerning ethical behaviour in South
Africa. Various incidents of unethical conduct are reported
within the financial sector, necessitating a specific focus on
factors which may influence ethical behaviour. Current research
supports a person-situation-interaction approach to ethical
decision-making, where both individual and situational factors
influence the decisions of individuals. Research indicate that
individual factors such as locus of control may influence ethical
behaviour. The way these variables are related among employ-
ees in the financial sector in South Africa, however, has not as
yet been demonstrated. In order to determine the relationship
between locus of control and ethical behaviour, Schepers’
Locus of Control Questionnaire and the Work Beliefs Question-
naire were administered to 100 employees in the financial
sector in Bloemfontein. Statistically significant relationships
(p≤0,05) were found between internal locus of control and eth-
ical behaviour, external locus of control and ethical behaviour,
as well as autonomy and ethical behaviour. Recommendations
were made in the light of the results regarding the development
The relationship between locus of control & ethical behaviour … in the financial sector
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Koers 76(2) 2011:283-303
of strategies and interventions to minimise unethical behaviour
within organisations.
Opsomming
Die verband tussen lokus van beheer en etiese gedrag onder
werknemers in die finansiële sektor
Onetiese gedrag is ’n snel-eskalerende tendens in die huidige
werksituasie, waar daar binne organisasies ’n verval in etiese
gedrag op nasionale sowel as internasionale vlak blyk te wees.
Werknemers in die finansiële sektor in Suid-Afrika vorm ’n
bepaalde area van belang rakende etiese gedrag. Verskeie in-
sidente van onetiese gedrag word binne die finansiële sektor
gerapporteer en noodsaak ’n fokus op faktore wat etiese ge-
drag mag beïnvloed. Huidige navorsing ondersteun ’n persoon-
situasie-interaksiebenadering tot etiese besluitneming, waar
sowel individuele as situasionele faktore die individu se besluite