The author concludes that business schools can promote ethical behavior by encouraging students’ desire for social acceptance and discouraging risk-taking tendencies. As support, the author cites studies showing that those with a strong tendency to take risks follow fewer ethical principles, and those who have a strong desire for social acceptance follow more. Also, the more ethical principles that one adheres to, the more ethical their behavior is.

This argument assumes a causal relationship based on correlational evidence. The studies show a correlation between risk-taking and fewer ethical principles, and between desire for social acceptance and more ethical principles. From this, the author assumes a causal connection, then concludes that modifying these traits will promote ethical behavior. However, there is no indication in the stimulus that there is a causal relationship between either of these traits and adherence to ethical principles.