Work

Empathy as moderator of gender differences in Chinese insurance agents' business ethical sensitivity

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: To expand the business ethics research field, and to increase society's understanding of Chinese insurance agents' business ethics, we investigated how gender differences are related to agents' business ethical sensitivity and whether or not these relationships are moderated by empathy. Through a regression analysis of the factors associated with the business ethical sensitivity of 417 Chinese insurance agents, we found that gender played an important role in affecting business ethical sensitivity, and empathy significantly affected business ethical sensitivity. Furthermore, empathy had a moderating effect on the relationship between gender and business ethical sensitivity. Both men and women with strong empathy scored high on business ethical sensitivity; however, men with strong empathy had higher levels of business ethical sensitivity than did women with little empathy. The findings add to the literature by providing insight into the mechanisms responsible for the benefits of empathy in increasing business ethical sensitivity.

Source: Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal

DOI: 10.2224/sbp.6155

Authors: Na Zhang, Jian Zhang, Jing Wang

Institutions: Beihang University, University of Science and Technology Beijing

Language: English

Topic: Ethics in Business and Education

Subfield: Information Systems and Management

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Gender equality

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W2735129157

FWCI: 0.44

Cites:

Cited by: 5

Related to: 10