Management Studies in Development and Evolution

Neuropsychological Pathways to deviant behavior: Understanding and preventing deviant behavior in organizations

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Fatemeh Razavi 1
hamed dehghanan 2
Mohammad Reza Ghasemian Moghadam 3
Kobra Bakhshizadeh Borj 4

1 PhD Student in Business Management, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba'i University,

2 faculty member

3 Associate Professor, Department of Motor Behaviour, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22054/jmsd.2025.82669.4541
Abstract
In recent years, the increasing prevalence of deviant behaviors in the workplace and their economic, social, and psychological consequences have drawn the attention of many researchers. In this study, we present a framework that identifies three neuropsychological pathways leading to deviant behaviors, supported by various theories such as Hoffman's Drive Theory, Festinger's Cognitive Dissonance Theory, and Murphy's Fraud Theory. The purpose of developing this framework is to understand the nature and mechanisms of employees' deviant behaviors and to encourage a neuropsychological approach in implementing processes to identify individuals prone to deviant behaviors within organizations.

The sample for this study consisted of 40 employees from the Vice-Chancellor for Development and Human Resources at Allameh Tabataba'i University, who voluntarily participated in the study. Their heart rates were recorded in a resting state using a neurofeedback device. Brain hemisphere dominance tests, self-report questionnaires, and 360-degree deviant behavior assessments were distributed and collected. The results indicated an increase in deviant behavior from Group 1 to Group 4. The left-brain group with lower heart rates showed the highest deviant behavior, while the left-brain group with higher heart rates exhibited the least deviant behavior.

Keywords

Deviant Behavior
Neuropsychological Approach
Cognitive Dissonance
Hemispheric Lateralization
Resting Heart Rate
Workplace Deviance
Subjects
Management Studies in Development and Evolution

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 21 March 2026

  • Receive Date 30 October 2024
  • Revise Date 11 June 2025
  • Accept Date 12 July 2025

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