Ethical dimension of consumer behaviours: A research on consumer ethics and determinants

In this research, consumer behaviors are examined from an ethical perspective. In this respect, first of all, the perceptions of consumers' about consumer ethics were measured. Thus, it has been determined which behaviors consumers accept and what behaviors they do not accept. Afterwards, by examining the propensity of consumers to machiavellian personality and their ethical ideologies, it was tried to be determined whether consumers' tendency to machiavellian personality and ethical ideology make a distinctive difference on perceptions of consumer ethics. Ultimately, it has been investigated whether demographic characteristics of consumers have a decisive role in consumer ethics perceptions. The results of the study show that consumers are generally sensitive to consumer ethics but they can tolerate certain behaviors. On the other hand, it has been seen that the machiavellian tendency and idealistic ethical ideology can cause significant differences in consumers' perceptions to consumer ethics. Relativistic ethical ideology did not provide statistical evidence that consumers' could make a significant difference in consumer ethics perceptions. Additionally, it has been found that demographic characteristics of consumers may cause significant differences in their perceptions of consumer ethics, on the basis of sub-dimensions of consumer ethics.