Justice and cooperation

Abstract

This study expands upon previous findings that justice plays an important role in shaping cooperation with the group. The authors argue that specific aspects of procedural justice can act differently and encourage varying degrees of norm-following compliance behaviours and voluntary helping behaviours. Specifically, when employees perceive their supervisors as neutral and fair in their decision-making, the employees should particularly increase their compliance with norms and expectations. When employees perceive their supervisors as treating them respectfully, the employees should particularly increase their voluntary efforts to help the group or organisation. Results of a longitudinal field study in an organisational context revealed support for these predictions. (Netherlands Journal of Psychology, 65, 146-154).