Justice concept development as shown in reward allocations

Abstract

Ss at six age levels (range 7–22 years) were asked to allocate rewards to two actors in tasks which showed differences in number of actors' products, actors' effort, actors' relative contributions, and the logical relation of actors' contributions, respectively. Contrary both to Adams' and Piaget's justice theories, results showed a greater variation in allocations for tasks than for age. Equal allocations of reward were most frequent when actors' effort and relative contributions were different, unequal allocations were most frequent for differences in actors' products, and for differences in logical relation of contributions. Equal reward allocations were furthermore more frequent when responses were related to the shared rather than the individual aspect of actors' contributions, and when there was a personal relationship between actors.