The impact of cognitive expenditure on the ethical decision-making process: The cognitive elaboration model

The extent to which decision-makers are willing and able to purposely expen d cognitive effort in resolving ethical issues is an important area of stud y in the ethical decision-making literature. In this article we describe th e role that cognitive expenditure is expected to play in the ethical decisi on-making process by presenting an integrated model of ethical decision-mak ing. This model provides the foundation for a series of research propositio ns suggesting the manner in which purposive cognitive expenditure is expect ed to influence the ethical decision process and, ultimately, the likelihoo d of engaging in moral behavior. (C) 2001 Academic Press.