DYADIC DICHOTOMIES, PERSONALITY ORIENTATIONS AND ETHICAL –
MORAL COGNITIONS IN CORRUPTION ACCEPTABILITY AMONG UNDERGRADUATES’
IBORO FRIDAY AKPAN OTTU1, ANIETIE MCMOSES UMOREN2, DAVID O. ILOMA3
1) UNIVERSITY OF UYO, UYO, NIGERIA. 2) UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA. 3) NASSARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, KEFFI.
Research goals: Understanding psychological sources of corruption from
a repertoire of human inclinations.
Background
People define corruption based on their inclinations and internal
psychological states. We investigated (1) dyadic dichotomizes – perceived
differences in the direction of judgment of right or wrong. Using three
Table 3: Stepwise Regression Model Showing
Prediction of Corruption Acceptability
R
R2
Step 1
Trait Meta Mood
Experience
0.275
0.076
Step 2
Trait Meta Mood
Experience
Erotic Plasticity
0.358
0.128
R2∆
0.103
F
P
5.821
.018
5.132
Graph shows decreasing variability of opinions from “strongly disagree”
to “strongly agree” (options of corruption acceptability) and vise versa.
β
t
P
-0.275
-2.413
< .05
• Larger percentage of participants do not accept corruption
.008
-0.283
-2.537
< .05
0.228
2.045
< .05
selected dimensions erotic plasticity, sexual gate-keeping and relationships
• Erotic plasticity is the next most important variable (but only positively
Fig 1: Graph showing participants
associated) variable in corruption acceptability.
250
Table I: Participants Responses to items on the
Corruption Acceptability Scale
S/N
Item
Strongly
Disagree
N (%)
1
Item 1*
35(47.9)
14(19.2)
9(12.3)
10(13.7
5(6.8)
73(100)
2
Item 2*
14(19.2)
15(20.5)
17(23.3)
21(28.8)
6(8.2)
73(100)
3
Item 3*
36(49.3)
11(15.1)
14(19.2)
9(12.3)
3(4.1)
73(100)
4
Item 4*
37(50.7)
12(16.4)
11(15.1)
8(11)
5(6.8)
73(100)
5
Item 5*
45(61.6)
17(23.3)
5(6.8)
6(8.2)
-
73(100)
6
Item 6*
35(47.9)
12(16.4)
8(11)
13(17.8)
5(6.8)
73(100)
7
Item 7*
26(35.6)
19(26)
7(9.6)
10(13.7)
11(15.1)
73(100)
8
item 8*
32(43.8)
16(21.9)
9(12.3)
12(16.4)
4(5.5)
73(100)
Disagree
N (%)
Undecided
N (%)
Agree
N (%)
Strongly
Agree
N (%)
Total
N (%)
200
7
150
5
100
3
50
Table 2: Multiple Regression Showing Prediction
of Corruption Acceptability
Beta
t-value
Sig
Erotic Plasticity
0.072
2.271
.02
Sexual Gate-keeping
-0.152
-1.249
.216
-0.124
-0.909
.367
Attributional Complexity
0.035
0.306
.761
Aspects of Identity
0.160
1.306
.196
-0.197
-1.571
.121
-1.779
.080
R
R2
F
P
Dyadic Dichotomies
Relationship
Maintenance
Personality Orientations
Trait Meta Mood
Experience
Ethical Moral Self
-0.204
0.456
0.208
2.433
All variables and sub variables jointly predict corruption (21%) (Corruption acceptability)
.028
6
4
2
Conclusion
Emotional intelligence can aid or abet corruption depending on the
emerging equation from nature-nurture interaction which ultimately
forms the basis which peoples’ level of intelligence will navigate some
equilibrium between integrity and vulnerability of corruption.
1
0
S/Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Acknowledgement
The researchers wish to thank all 400-Level students of Psychology,
University of Uyo, Nigeria during the 2016/2017 academic year for
completing the measures used for the study.
Fig 2: Graph showing participants
Variable
places the life of one’s partner at stake
corruption. Negative beta shows inverse relationship.
aspects of identity and trait-mood tendencies and (3) ethical – moral
behaviour guided by emotional intelligence.
• Negligible percentage accepts corruption especially in item 2 which
• Emotional intelligence is the most important factor in prediction of
maintenance (2) personality orientations – attributional complexity,
self which examines peoples’ ability to control their own impulses and
Discussion of Results
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Strongly agree
Agree
Undecided
Disagree
Strongly disagree
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