The relationship between social norm consensus, perceived similarity, and observer reactions to coworker theft
研究餐厅员工观察同事偷窃时的反应，发现当偷窃行为的社会规范共识低、观察者觉得偷窃者与自己相似时，他们更少将行为定性为偷窃，也更少举报、更多模仿。
Abstract This research examines observers' reactions to coworker theft in a restaurant chain. This study focuses on the role of social information, such as the social norm consensus regarding the specific type of theft behavior, and on the perceived similarity between the observer and the perpetrator. In general, observers are less likely to label coworkers' behavior as theft when social norm consensus is low and when they perceive the perpetrator as similar to themselves. Also, observers are less likely to report and more likely to imitate the theft behavior of similar coworkers as the amount of consensus regarding the type of theft decreases. Analyses indicate that the relationship between similarity, reporting, and imitation of theft behavior is not mediated by the labeling of an event as theft. Implications for employee theft research and human resource management practice are discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.