Consider the connection between corporation and psychopathology.
Also, examine how psychopathology might impact a corporation’s social responsibility.
Build an argument as to whether or not most large American corporations are psychopathological and exploitive, with little regard for social responsibility.
In your argument, explain what you think are the root causes of this (for either position).
If you believe corporations do exhibit psychopathological characteristics, explain what might alleviate these.
If you believe corporations are not psychopathological and exploitive, explain what is keeping them from not being so.
Provide 4 academic resources and citations in APA style.
Solution
Corporation and Psychopathology
The maximization of profits, the improvement of production efficiency, and the growth of shareholder wealth are the core objectives that drive every business. Every corporation has a clear corporate strategy whose implementation propels it towards the achievement of the set organizational goals. Even when corporate social responsibility is critical, most companies prioritize their interests over everything. Most engage in activities that increase their profit efficiency without a consideration of their impact on the society. As such, most American corporations are psychopathological and exploitive with little regard for social responsibility (Zhu & Chen, 2015). Most large corporations are accused of polluting the environment, exploiting employees, using child labour in other countries, evading taxation, and engaging in unethical and unfair business practices against the consumer and, which affect the environment and the society negatively (Hill, 2014). For instance, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Apple Inc., have in the past been accused of evading taxes, significant pollution of air and water, and using child labour in production respectively (Jennings, 2014).
According
to Flaschel and
Luchtenberg (2014), the exploitive and
psychopathological tendencies of most corporations are caused by unregulated capitalism
and corporate greed. As the corporations focus on improving their market share
and maintaining market dominance, unethical capitalistic practices play a significant
role. Most companies are willing to implement any strategy that guarantees
reduced production costs, improves market dominance, and increases
profitability. Following this, acts such as the exploitation of employees by
cutting labour pay, wages, and benefits, using child and slave labour, and
evasion of taxes are rampant (Hill, 2014). Additionally, many corporations
explore and use natural resources irresponsibly while releasing pollutants
without consideration of their social responsibility (Flaschel & Luchtenberg, 2014). However, the
enforcement of existing laws and the creation and implementation of policies that
force corporations to prioritize social responsibility will alleviate the
tendencies. For example, the addressing corporate greed and establishing and
implementing principles that govern environmental-social-governance, and
monitoring and evaluating corporations through bodies such as the UN Global
Compact will improve corporate social responsibility practices and alleviate psychopathological
and exploitive tendencies (Hill, 2014).
References
Flaschel, P., & Luchtenberg, S. (2014). Roads to social capitalism : theory, evidence, and policy. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Roads_to_Social_Capitalism/aNzyaHC3wkkC?hl=en&gbpv=0
Hill, M. (2014). Taming the corporate beast . Dollars & Sense (313), 13-19. http://dollarsandsense.org/archives/2014/0714hill.html
Jennings, M. (2014). Business ethics: case studies and selected readings (8th Edition ed.). Stamford: Cengage Learning. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Business_Ethics_Case_Studies_and_Selecte/xYMl-nYt7VgC?hl=en&gbpv=0
Zhu, D., & Chen, G. (2015). CEO narcissism and the impact of prior board experience on corporate strategy. Administrative Science Quarterly 60 (1), 31-65. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0001839214554989