Final answer:
Factors contributing to unethical behavior include pressure to meet goals, lack of oversight, organizational culture, and the individual's personal ethical compass.
Step-by-step explanation:
Unethical behavior in various contexts, including sociological studies, can often be traced back to several key factors. These factors create the conditions under which individuals or groups may deviate from ethical norms. Four factors that most likely contribute to unethical behavior include:
- Pressure to meet goals - When the pressure to achieve certain outcomes or meet targets is intense, individuals may engage in unethical behavior to reach those ends.
- Lack of oversight - In environments where there is little accountability or insufficient monitoring, unethical behavior may flourish.
- Organizational culture - A workplace culture that either implicitly or explicitly encourages cutting corners or ignoring ethical standards can lead to widespread unethical behavior.
- Personal ethical compass - The individual's own values and morals play a significant role in their behavior; a weak personal ethical compass can lead to unethical decisions.
These contributing factors to unethical behavior should be understood and addressed to foster a culture of integrity and ethical conduct in academic and professional settings.