NCJ Number
41772
Journal
Acta Sociologica Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: (1977) Pages: 75-95
Date Published
1977
Length
21 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE PRESENTS RESULTS OF AN EXPERIMENT DESIGNED TO TEST SUBJECTS' BEHAVIOR IN SEEKING COMPENSATION FOR UNJUST SITUATIONS.
Abstract
THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY ARE 1) TO EXAMINE THE AMOUNTS OF COMPENSATION SOUGHT BY SUBJECTS IN TWO SITUATIONS OF INJUSTICE; 2) TO EXAMINE WHETHER THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION SOUGHT WILL DIFFER IN ACCORD WITH THE MAGNITUDE OF INJUSTICE, WHEN THE LATTER IS VARIED THROUGH A MANIPULATION OF RELATIVE INPUTS; 3) TO EXAMINE WHETHER SUBJECTS PREFER TO EXACT COMPENSATION DIRECTLY FROM THE SOURCE OF INJUSTICE OR FROM AN 'EXPERIMENTAL FUND'; AND 4) TO EXAMINE WHETHER THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION WILL DIFFER IN TWO SITUATIONS, ONE IN WHICH COMPENSATIONS CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SOURCE OF INJUSTICE AND ONE IN WHICH A CHOICE CAN BE MADE BETWEEN TAKING FROM EITHER THE SOURCE OR FROM AN 'EXPERIMENTAL FUND'. THE RESULTS SHOW THAT SUBJECTS IN THE MOST UNJUST SITUATION ARE LIKELY TO RETALIATE DIRECTLY AGAINST THE SOURCE OF INJUSTICE, WHILE SUBJECTS IN THE LEAST UNJUST SITUATION PREFER COMPENSATION FROM AN AVAILABLE EXPERIMENTAL FUND. FINALLY, SUBJECTS IN THE MORE UNJUST SITUATION WHO WERE GIVEN A CHOICE OF COMPENSATION SOURCES TOOK MORE MONEY FROM THE SOURCE OF INJUSTICE THAN DID SUBJECTS WHO WERE GIVEN NO CHOICE. ALSO, SUBJECTS IN THE LESS UNJUST SITUATION WHO WERE GIVEN A CHOICE OF COMPENSATION SOURCES TOOK LESS FROM THE SOURCE THAN THOSE WHO WERE NOT GIVEN A CHOICE OF COMPENSATION SOURCES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC