Abstract
Organizations that are publicly blamed for failures or wrongdoings typically face a high level of uncertainty about this alleged guilt. Broadly, guilt can take the form of moral, legal, and emotional guilt, which may occur at different points in time. If an alleged wrongdoing has occurred, organizations incur moral guilt at the time of the transgression, while they incur legal guilt only if a judicial sentence is awarded later. Additionally, emotional guilt may be experienced, if organizations as collective entities feel guilty about the alleged wrongdoing. This uncertainty prompts organizations to communicate about their possible guilt without explicitly denying or acknowledging it to minimize their potential legal guilt and preserve their public legitimacy. In such situations, organizations employ guilt management strategies in their efforts to embrace the paradoxical tensions that emerge between their routine, positive self-presentation and their communication about their alleged guilt.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Elgar Encyclopedia of Corporate Communication |
| Editors | K. Podnar |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Place of publication | Cheltenham |
| Publisher | Edward Elgar Publishing |
| Publication date | 1 Jan 2024 |
| Pages | 240-245 |
| Chapter | 39 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978 1 80220 086 7 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781802200874 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2024 |
Keywords
- Corporate responsibility
- Guilt
- Impression management
- Legitimacy
- Wrongdoing