The Psychology of Corruption Across Cultures
In Indonesia, people react more angrily to corruption than people in the Netherlands
People who deal with corruption on a daily basis aren’t automatically inclined to view corrupt behavior as normal. Meta Aurelia’s research shows just the opposite: Indonesians judge corruption more harshly than the Dutch. It makes them angrier, they want harsher penalties, and they are more often disappointed in people who act corruptly.
Aurelia compared Indonesia and the Netherlands and expanded the study to a total of eight countries. The results show that frequent experiences with corruption can lead to a stronger sense of injustice. People feel that others gain opportunities and resources through fraud or bribery that they themselves miss out on. That sense of unfairness, also known as relative deprivation, primarily evokes anger.
It also appears that one’s environment influences how people judge corruption. Indonesian students who moved to the Netherlands became slightly more tolerant of corrupt behavior. In addition, communication was found to play a role: people were more likely to cheat together when they could consult with others who were acting dishonestly. Surveillance cameras significantly reduced this behavior among Indonesian participants.
The results have implications for tackling corruption. In countries where corruption is widespread, campaigns can tap into existing outrage over dishonest behavior. By highlighting the harm caused by corruption and involving citizens in combating it, that anger can be channeled into action.
In countries where corruption is less common, such as the Netherlands, there is a different risk: corruption may be viewed as an exceptional incident, making its broader societal consequences less visible. According to the study, an effective approach therefore requires communication that aligns with the cultural context and with how citizens perceive corruption.
More information about the dissertation