Is the set of beliefs about right and wrong behavior.
It is certainly a subject that is used in discussions about how we should live, what is right and wrong and what we mean when we use words like right and wrong, good and bad.
Ethical Behavior – conforms to the generally accepted social norms, many of which are almost universal. A persons opinion of what represents an ethical behavior is strongly influenced by a combination of: 1. Family influences 2. Life experiences 3. Education 4. Religious beliefs 5. Personal values 6. Peer influences
People also develop habits that make it easier to choose between what society considers good or bad. 1. Virtues – are habits that incline people to do what is acceptable. Example: fairness, generosity, honesty, loyalty and etc. 2. Vices – are habits of unacceptable behavior. Example: vanity, greed, envy, and anger. 3. Peoples virtues and vices help define their value system, the complex scheme of moral values by which they live.
Each society forms a set of rules that establishes the boundaries of generally accepted behavior. Moral Code – are rules that often expressed in statements about how people should behave by which a society lives.
Morality – refers to social conventions about right and wrong that are so widely shared that they become the basis for an established consensus. However ones view of moral may vary by: 1. Age 2. Cultural group 3. Ethnic background 4. Religion 5. Gender
Importance of Integrity
Moral principles – are statements of what you believe to be rules of right conduct.
A person who acts with integrity acts in accordance with a personal code of principles- integrity is one of the cornerstone of ethical behavior. Example: You might believe that it is important to do as your employer requests and that you should be