The Role of Psychological Need Satisfaction in Prosocial Rule-Breaking

Status: In Progress (Data Collection)

Focus Area: Organizational Psychology, Compliance, Financial Services Industry

Description: This research investigates how basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—impact prosocial rule-breaking (PSRB) behaviors in highly regulated environments. It also explores how transformational and transactional leadership styles may moderate these relationships.

Key Questions:

• How much does leadership style encourage (discourage) ethical noncompliance that benefits the organization?

• How much does need satisfaction influence rule-following behavior?

Methodology: Quantitative survey of financial services professionals using SEM and moderation analysis.

Implications: Findings could reshape how financial institutions frame leadership and compliance training, encouraging psychological safety without increasing risk.

Keywords: self determiniation theory, basic pyschological needs theory, tranformational leadership, transactional leadership, full range leadership theory, prosocial rule breaking, constructive deviance, autonomy, competence, relatedness, financial services industry, compliance, regulated environments.