Some Rules are Meant to be Broken: Individual Differences and Rule-Breaking Behavior

Through a multi-wave design with coworker ratings (n=115), we explore the relationship between important personality traits and pro-social rule-breaking (PSRB) behaviors, while examining organizational structure as a moderator. Our results indicate that individuals high in honesty-humility are less likely to engage in PSRB behavior, while individuals high in moral disengagement are more likely to engage in PSRB behavior. Furthermore, an organic organizational structure is positively related to PSRB behavior, indicating that, when an organization does not have strong rules or guidelines (a “weak situation”), individuals are more likely to rely on their predispositions and engage in PSRB behaviors. Organizational structure also moderated the relationship between moral disengagement and PSRB behavior, thereby enhancing this negative relationship. This study identifies the types of individuals who are more likely to engage in PSRB behaviors and the organization’s role in creating an environment where these behaviors can flourish, resulting in important managerial implications.