Understanding the Emergence and Persistence of Patterns of Unethical Behavior in Organizations - A Narrative Review of the Utility of the Toxic Triangle Model Based on Analyses of 30 Case Reports

We used Padilla et al’s (2007) Toxic Triangle Model (TTM) as a theoretical framework for understanding the emergence and the persistence of patterns of unethical behavior in organizations (UBIO). The utility of the model was assessed by applying it to 30 well-documented real-world cases from a broad range of contexts (e.g., business, education, religion). We asked (a) how well the original 2007 version of the TTM is suited for understanding the dynamics of each case, and (b) which important insights from the case analyses exceed the scope of the TTM, suggesting a need for updates. This article presents a narrative review summarizing the insights that we gained. This includes suggestions for streamlining the model, and for strengthening its connections to the broader literature. We also provide suggestions for future research.