Final answer:
The widely recognized forms of rationalization used to justify fraud in the business environment include claiming to be underpaid, claiming to be borrowing the money, claiming the theft is insignificant in comparison to the company’s profits, and claiming a higher purpose.
Step-by-step explanation:
The forms of rationalization used to justify fraud in the business environment include:
- Claiming to be underpaid: This rationalization involves justifying fraud by arguing that the individual is not being adequately compensated for their work.
- Claiming to be borrowing the money: This rationalization involves pretending that the money taken is just a loan and will be repaid in the future.
- Claiming the theft is insignificant in comparison to the company's profits: This rationalization involves minimizing the impact of the theft by arguing that the company makes a lot of money and the stolen amount is negligible.
- Claiming a higher purpose: This rationalization involves justifying fraud by claiming that the stolen money is used for a noble cause, such as helping a sick family member.
All of these options represent common forms of rationalization used to justify fraud in the business environment.