The Necessity of Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy is usually perceived as being problematic for society and its moral order. This also applies to organizations, which are broadly expected to behave well and do what they say they do. However, drawing on decades of research we will show that organizational hypocrisy is a normal and often unavoidable occurrence. What is more, hypocrisy often contributes to the maintenance of existing norms and values, and it can sometimes be a facilitator for real social change. We argue that it is important for sociological research to acknowledge hypocrisy and understand why it is common and what effects it has.