Machiavellian Careerism and Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior: A Sequential Mediation Model Among Russian Workers

This study examined how Machiavellian careerism influences unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB), focusing on the mediating roles of careerist attitudes and moral rationalization. Whereas prior research has emphasized moral disengagement as a mediator, we incorporate careerism through the cognitive-affective personality system (CAPS), clarifying how Machiavellian individuals rationalize and engage in UPB. Online survey data from 320 Russian employees were analyzed. Machiavellianism significantly predicted UPB. This relationship was mediated not only by moral disengagement but also sequentially by careerism and moral disengagement, suggesting that career-oriented ambition facilitates the cognitive rationalization of UPB. Incorporating careerism into ethical decision-making models in the context of Russian cultural norms provides insights into how Machiavellian careerism influences UPB.