Three Explorative Studies on Responsibility and Escape from Responsibility: A Facet Theory Approach

Abstract

Responsibility is often framed as a moral quality reinforced through education, regulation, and sanctions. This paper proposes an alternative view: responsibility as a resource-dependent practice, and escape from responsibility as a distinct phenomenon involving the avoidance of role-taking. Using facet theory, we mapped the semantic field of responsibility across three facets—essence, objects, and required resources—and conducted three exploratory studies. Study One surveyed managers in business and public organizations, showing that intangible resources (e.g., motivation, attentiveness, competence) best predict responsibility. Study Two compared managers in NGOs with those in other organizations, revealing sectoral differences in how responsibility depends on personal traits versus structural resources. Study Three analyzed indicators from 51 countries, identifying patterns of escape from responsibility in attitudinal, familial, and economic domains. Together, the findings challenge the conventional moral view of responsibility, highlight the central role of resources in enabling responsible behavior, and establish escape from responsibility as a distinct construct. The paper demonstrates the value of facet theory for mapping complex social phenomena and offers directions for policy and practice aimed at strengthening the resource foundations of responsibility.