Corruption is a transnational crime that transcends geographical boundaries and is recognized through multiple international conventions such as United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, and legal instruments notably the Prevention of Corruption Act, of 1988. It poses a multifaceted challenge that has a detrimental effect on societies around the globe. This necessitates answering the prolonged question of why people engage in corrupt behavior by identifying underlying psychological factors and processes that contribute towards its persistence and growth. Since corruption is a multi-faceted phenomenon, it’s not always possible to fit it within the ambit of personnel gain due to abuse of power. Bribery, kickback, nepotism, and embezzlement are some of the prevalent forms of corruption that are systematically rooted and institutionalized. The Covid-19 pandemic furthered the issue of corruption when the government didn’t have enough finances to take quick measures.

Given the importance of addressing the issue of corruption as an international crisis, adopting a traditional economic approach is insufficient to yield a comprehensive understanding of the subject. A behavioral account implies that even though the decision to engage in corrupt behavior may be deliberate, humans as social agents are affected by other factors like norms, perceptions, prevalent practices, the efficacy of sanctions, and moral recognitions.

There is no denying the fact that individuals seek their self-interest. People with high social status are more prone to indulge in corrupt behavior as control over resources provides more opportunities for personal gain. Therefore, it is pertinent to note that corruption predominantly occurs in instances where there is an imbalance of power, which is exploited for personnel benefits. In countries with weak political institutions, citizens support corruption as they expect to receive benefits from corrupt leaders. Thus, they adhere to the corrupt behavior of people in authority when it also proves to be advantageous to them personally. However, such corrupt practices are downplayed through moral disengagements, employing various cognitive mechanisms in an attempt at rationalization and justification.

Authority effects are another element that provides a breeding ground for corruption. Since it’s more prevalent amongst the higher strata, when seen to reap benefits without accountability and sanctions, it encourages others to follow the same path. Additionally, as true for all forms of behavior, peer effect adds fuel to the fire. When people see their peers engaging in corrupt activities, without any legal or social consequences, they are either naturally motivated or compelled to maintain their status by following the same path of corrupt practices. Peer pressure and conformity to group norms override ethical and moral considerations.

This growth of corruption can be explained using the social learning theory as humans replicate each other’s behavior. For instance, paying bribes for preferential treatment from government officials to expedite administrative functioning has become a social norm. When individuals’ corrupt behavior is positively reinforced by others, they model the same.

Corruption can also be viewed through the angle of the rational choice theory which implies that individuals engage in corrupt activities based on an analysis of the costs and benefits it entails. This involves a comparison of the possibility of gains against the consequences and risks to make a rational decision. It is essential for understanding the reasons behind the decision to engage in corrupt activities. If the probability of being caught is higher, the rational choice theory would suggest that the chances of an individual being engaged in corruption would be low. Other than observing others’ experiences, the likelihood of it increases when one might have gotten away with it in the past as it is a benchmark for predicting the future course of action