Witt, L. AlanPenney, Lisa M.2018-02-152018-02-15December 22017-12December 2http://hdl.handle.net/10657/2098Unethical Behavior is a salient workplace issue due to its prevalence and detrimental outcomes. Social cognitive theory (SCT) and conservation of resources theory (COR) are applied to present a conceptualization of unethical behavior in the workplace as a resource defense and allocation strategy, stemmed by self-regulatory processes. Applying the limitations of finite self-regulatory resources as presented in the self-control literature, I suggest that demands relating to information processing and emotional labor can deplete self-regulatory resources and are associated with the use of unethical behavior as a means of resource conservation. As research suggests that self-regulatory failure is more likely when an individual has increased demands on their self-regulatory resources, I also suggest that increased emotional regulation due to low emotional stability will moderate the relationships between both job demands and unethical behavior. Results fail to support the theoretical model. Methodological limitations are discussed as well as applications to future research.application/pdfengThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).Unethical work behaviorSelf-regulationJob demandsEmotional labor2018-02-15Thesisborn digital