Interpersonal injustice and perceived legitimacy of authority: The role of institutional trust and informational justice

Abstract

AbstractThis study explained why interpersonal injustice enacted by representatives of an authority might undermine perceived legitimacy of the actual authority. We built a moderated mediation model in which institutional trust was the mediator, and informational justice was the moderator, in the relationship between interpersonal injustice and perceived legitimacy of authority. Study 1 showed that interpersonal injustice negatively influenced perceived legitimacy of authority. Study 2 indicated that institutional trust was a significant mediator of the relationship between interpersonal injustice and perceived legitimacy of authority. Study 3 indicated that institutional trust was a significant mediator of the relationship between interpersonal injustice and perceived legitimacy of authority when an explanation was absent, whereas it was not significant when explanation was given. These findings contribute to the literature by identifying components that shape the psychological process of forming legitimacy perceptions of authority.