Volume 29, Issue 1
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.140
PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS OF INTERNAL AUDITORS COMMITTING CORRUPTION
Abstract
Internal audit is an important part of modern enterprise management. The psychology and behaviour of internal auditors are influenced by their professional competence, the auditing environment and the existence of internal power. From the perspective of psychological activities, this paper aims to identify the psychological factors of internal auditors committing corruption. First, the audit environment and professional competency of the internal auditors were summed up. Then, the internal audit process was analysed based on the psychology of conformity and the herd behaviour, respectively. The results show that, when difficulties arise in the audit process, the auditors with conformity psychology are unwilling to communicate with the auditees, but tend to delay or refuse to complete their due duties; the herd behaviour is unstable and fragile: an internal audit will become vulnerable after encountering an external audit, but the herd behaviour cannot undermine the existing internal audit system. This research lays a theoretical basis for enhancing the fairness and justice of internal audit.
Keywords
Internal Audit, Psychology, Conformity, Herd Behaviour, Psychological Factors.