After reading Thomas Jone’s article on ethical decision making, I realized how much moral intensity affects everyday choices. The article explains how ethical decisions are not just based on personal values but are also shaped by the issue itself. The seriousness of an event or problem, as well as the consequences can affect everyone who is involved in a situation. One part of the article that really stood out to me was the idea that people are more likely to act ethically when there is a high risk factor involved and the consequences can negatively impact themselves or someone close to them. Jones recognizes that people may act differently in a situation in which the effects seem distant.

When I think about my own life, I can see this idea present in some ways. For example, when working in teams sometimes I will let things slide if it doesn’t have a strong impact on me, but when my grade is heavily impacted I will. I have had to reach out to professors about team members not doing their part when my grade was at stake but sometimes I have let it slide if it is a small group discussion or something without big consequences. I also have had times where I have intervened when someone was talking down on someone close to me but not said anything if it was someone I don’t really know. While these are not necessarily ethical practices, it is something that many of us do without thinking twice.

I can also connect this to the world through tragic events. People oftentimes have stronger reactions to tragedies when people who have similar beliefs or live close to them are affected. When someone far away is suffering it can sometimes be more difficult to feel the moral intensity because it seems so distant. This article has helped me to reflect on my own behavior and how I can expand my morals beyond my community.

Jones, Thomas M. “Ethical Decision Making by Individuals in Organizations: An Issue-Contingent Model.” Academy of Management Review, vol. 16, no. 2, 1991, pp. 366–395.