The model proposes to explain why some newcomers may
resist socialization into corruption while others may accept
it. To this end, the model uses deonance theory as a conceptual
framework. The model’s focus is limited to
acceptance or rejection of socialization into corrupt practices.
Thus, the model did not consider deontic agents’
responses to corruption in general nor did it attempt to
determine their attitudes toward corrupt people and organizations.
Rather, the model was designed to specifically
assess the extent to which adherence to deontic principles
may help newcomers resist socialization into corruption.
Finally, the model did not explore the determinants of
adherence to deontic principles. For instance, organizational
scholars could explore the potential determinants of
adherence to deonance to explain why some people
develop strong deontic principles while others do not.
Despite these caveats, the model represents an important
step in explaining corruption through the lens of organizational
justice and is likely to spark further theorizing and
empirical research to better understand why some
employees may resist corruption, whereas others may
succumb to it.