How Groups Encourage Misbehavior

"A top research psychologist provides a comprehensive analysis of why people misbehave. The discussion ranges from minor acts of incivility to major scandals in government and industry. The reader of this book will come away with an understanding of why people misbehave and what can be done to discourage it." -Paul Spector, University of South Florida, USA

"So why do people so often act badly--immorally, uncivilly, or just unrelentingly selfishly? Explanations often drift, inevitably, to the people themselves, citing their psychological drives, personality traits, character deficiencies, and the like ("bad apples"). These analyses, however, provide only part of the picture, for they overlook the interpersonal processes that cause people to turn from the good to the bad ("bad barrels"). Kevin Murphy, in his book How Groups Encourage Misbehavior, thoroughly reviews these processes, in an analysis that is both sweeping in vision but comprehensive in scope. Drawing deeply on studies of the group and organizational processes, including social influence, socialization, identity, and contagion, Professor Murphy explains the many ways people falter--including wartime atrocities of military squads, corporate decision makers, and overly committed members of extremist groups. The book is a one-stop shop for all you need to know about the social side of misbehavior." -Donelson R. Forsyth, The University of Richmond, The Jepson School of Leadership Studies, USA