Procedures: do we really want to know them? An examination of the effects of procedural justice on self-esteem.
This study examined the effects of procedural justice on state-dependent self-esteem using the group-value model and attribution theory to present competing theoretical perspectives. The group-value model predicts a positive relationship between self-esteem and fair procedures. In contrast, attribution theory suggests procedural fairness interacts with outcome favorability to influence self-esteem. Thus, fair procedures will result in higher self-esteem ratings than unfair procedures when the outcome is positive but will result in lower self-esteem ratings than unfair procedures when the outcome is negative. The results of a laboratory and field study provide converging evidence to support the attribution theory predictions. The results of a 2nd laboratory study suggest that self-esteem is influenced by outcome expectancies, not actual outcomes.
Schroth
H A
HA
Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA. schroth@haas.berkeley.edu
Shah
P P
PP
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010559:Personnel Management; D012649:Self Concept; D012935:Social Justice; D014481:United States