The Impact of Knowledge and personal Values on Consumer Ethical Behavior with an Emphasis on the personal and Situational Characteristics

Understanding the behavior of ethically minded consumers creates a valuable platform for the success of producers and marketers. The main purpose of the study is to design a model of ethical behavior of consumers in the food industry in Golestan province. The statistical population of the study consisted of consumers of food industry in Golestan province on an indefinite number. Structural equation modeling used to test the hypotheses using Smart Plus Software. The results revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between consumer knowledge and personal values ​​​​with ethical concerns. Based on the results, the personal values of universalism and benevolence are related to ethical concerns. The findings also show that there is a significant relationship between consumers' ethical concerns and their ethical behaviors. Identifying consumers with high personal values of universalism and benevolence and providing ethical products to them will lead to their satisfaction and the achievement of goals. Promoting behaviors such as buying from local stores and consuming organic products, as well as participating in protests and marches against companies without ethical responsibility, will also be helpful.