Psychology: Techniques and Application

Psychology: Techniques and Application ›› 2026, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (1): 1-12.

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The Impact of Uncertainty on Unethical Behavior: The Buffering Role of Cognitive Reappraisal

  

  1. School of Education, Guangzhou University
  • Accepted:2025-09-16 Online:2025-12-25 Published:2025-12-25

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Abstract:

Uncertainty is a common psychological experience in daily life that may elicit various negative behavioral responses. However, its specific influence on unethical behavior remains insufficiently understood. Across three experiments, this study systematically examined the effect of uncertainty on unethical behavior and the moderating role of cognitive reappraisal. In Experiment 1, individuals exposed to high uncertainty reported significantly greater tendencies toward unethical behavior. Experiment 2 employed a behavioral task to indirectly measure unethical actions, again showing that higher uncertainty led to increased unethical behavior. Experiment 3 demonstrated that cognitive reappraisal effectively mitigated the influence of uncertainty on unethical behavior. These findings underscore the direct impact of uncertainty on unethical conduct and highlight cognitive reappraisal as a critical buffering mechanism. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of the psychological determinants of unethical behavior and offer theoretical support
for designing targeted intervention strategies.

Key words:

CLC Number: 

  • B849
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