New article examines how people justify corrupt practices they condemn

A new article by Inês Ascenso, a PhD student at CEI-Iscte, and Marcelo Moriconi, also a researcher at CEI-Iscte, co-authored with Luís de Sousa, examines the social and psychological mechanisms that help explain why people may engage in corrupt practices despite condemning them in principle.

Published in the International Journal of Public Administration, the article “Do as I Say, Not as I Do’: Understanding Moral Rationalisations and Disengagements Behind ‘Parochial’ Corrupt Actions” focuses on so-called “parochial” corruption in Portugal, which includes practices such as using personal connections to circumvent procedures or overcome difficulties in accessing services and resources.

The research starts from an observation: although corruption is widely rejected, certain practices may be tolerated or even adopted in everyday life. To understand this apparent contradiction, the authors examine the relationship between injunctive norms (what people believe should be done) and descriptive norms (what they perceive others to be doing).

Drawing on survey and focus group data, the findings show that although “parochial” corruption is generally considered undesirable, many people feel compelled to engage in such practices because they believe that “everyone does it” and regard them as an effective way to overcome limitations or shortcomings in the system. The study also shows that, depending on the context, certain actions may not even be perceived as corruption. To reconcile the conflict between their values and their behaviour, individuals resort to various forms of moral rationalisation and disengagement, allowing them to justify their actions and reduce feelings of guilt.

The findings therefore help explain how certain practices can be simultaneously condemned and tolerated, and how social norms and processes of justification contribute to their persistence.

Read the full article here.

Originally published at: https://cei.iscte-iul.pt/2026/08/novo-artigo-analisa-como-as-pessoas-justificam-praticas-de-corrupcao-que-condenam/