[Approfondimento] When doing the right thing goes wrong! Causes, effects, and dimensions of corporate social responsibility scepticism

Public scepticism is becoming more prevalent surrounding organisations’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation and communication. This study provides a systematic literature review of 73 studies, published from 2007 to 2024, to determine the status quo of the CSR vis-à-vis scepticism scholarship by specifically exploring the underlying causal factors, effects, and dimensions of CSR scepticism. The findings illustrate that the process nature of CSR scepticism is complex, given that CSR can yield both buffering and boomerang effects on CSR practitioners. Furthermore, there are both CSR-related and non-CSR-related factors that determine and induce negativities in stakeholders’ evaluations and perceptions towards CSR actions and information. This study offers a conceptual insight and clarity into the prevalent issue of scepticism in the CSR context, whilst also informing marketing, communication, and public relations professionals about the necessity of mitigating CSR scepticism which poses as a barrier to effective CSR implementation and communication.