Seven experiments demonstrate that framing an organizational entity (the target) as an organization ("an organization comprised of its constituent members") versus its members ("constituent members comprising an organization") increases attribution of responsibility to the target following a negative outcome, despite identical information conveyed. Specifically, the target in the organization (vs. members) frame was perceived to have more control over a negative outcome, which led to an increased attribution of responsibility (Studies 1-3). This effect surfaced for both for-profits and nonprofits (Study 5). However, when the target in the members frame had explicit control over the outcome (Study 3), or when participants held strong beliefs in individual free will (Study 4), the effect of frame on responsibility attenuated. To the extent that framing increased perceptions of control, punishment for the target also increased (Studies 6a and 6b). By demonstrating how a subtle shift in framing can impact people's perceptions and judgments of organizations, we reveal important knowledge about how people understand organizations and the psychological nature of organizational and group perception. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

中文翻译：

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组织与有组织成员的道德：与同等成员相比，组织对负面结果的控制和责任更大。

七个实验表明，将组织实体（目标）归为组织（“由其组成成员组成的组织”）与其成员（“组成组织的组成成员”）相比，在否定结果之后，对目标的责任归属就会增加，尽管传达了相同的信息。具体而言，人们认为组织（相对于成员）框架中的目标可以更好地控制负面结果，从而导致责任归属增加（研究1-3）。对于营利性组织和非营利性组织，这种影响都浮出水面（研究5）。但是，当成员框架中的目标对结果有明确的控制权时（研究3），或者当参与者对个人自由意志具有强烈的信念时（研究4），框架对责任的影响就会减弱。在某种程度上，取景增加了人们对控制的认识，对目标的惩罚也有所增加（研究6a和6b）。通过演示构架的细微变化如何影响人们对组织的看法和判断，我们揭示了有关人们如何理解组织以及组织和小组看法的心理本质的重要知识。（PsycINFO数据库记录（c）2020 APA，保留所有权利）。