The Origins of Corrupt Behavior: Psychological Aspect

Abstract

The article presents data from a theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of corruption and corrupt practices. This phenomenon is perceived by scientists and practitioners more often in economic and legal aspects. Whereas from a psychological point of view, the authors analyze the definition of “corruption” only indirectly and somewhat distantly. Moreover, the psychological analysis of corruption issues mainly aline within the framework of moral, ethical and philosophical views. In this article, corruption and corruption practices are considered in the context of the activity approach of A.N. Leontiev. It is suggested that one of the reasons for the development of corrupt behavior of a person can be a shortage of personal and environmental resources of a person, which allow to reveal oneself in such a socio-psychological phenomenon as "deficiency of normative behavior" in the early stages of adulting. From the standpoint of the activity approach of A.N. Leont'ev suggested that deficiency discovers itself at three levels of life: physiological, mental, and personal. It is concluded that the deficiency of normative behavior contributes to the deformation of the personality structure, is in destructive mode and blocks the differentiation of mental functions reducing the dynamism of interpersonal interactions.

Keywords

• corruption practices
• corruption
• activity approach
• norm
• normative behavior
• deficiency