Skip to main content

On the Apocryphal Nature of Inequity Distress

  • Chapter
The Sense of Injustice

Part of the book series: Critical Issues in Social Justice ((CISJ))

Abstract

The basic assumptions of contemporary equity theories (e.g., Adams, 1963, 1965; Walster, Berscheid, & Walster, 1973) are that: (1) States of inequity lead to distress, and (2) Persons act so as to redress inequity cognitively or behaviorally in order to relieve their distress. Despite the fundamental nature of these assumptions, they have been the subject of surprisingly little empirical research, a situation that some observers have found disquieting.

Preparation of this chapter was partially supported by a Fulbright research grant. The author acknowledge the support of the Université Catholique de Louvain. Louvain-la-Neauve, Belgium, and of the Commission for Educational Exchange between the United States of America, Belgium, and Luxemberg.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abelson, R. P. A script theory of understanding, attitude, and behavior. In J. Carroll & T. Payne (Eds.), Cognition and social behavior. Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams, J. S. Toward an understanding of inequity. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1963, 67, 422–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, J. S. Inequity in social exchange. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology(Vol. 2 ). New York: Academic Press, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams, J. S., & Freedman, S. Equity theory revisited: Comments and annotated bibliography. In L. Berkowitz & E. Walster (Eds.), Advances in experimental social psychology(Vol. 9). New York: Academic Press, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams, J. S., & Jacobsen, P. R. Effects of wage inequities on work quality. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1964, 69, 19–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, J. S., & Rosenbaum, W. B. The relationship of worker productivity to cognitive dissonance about wage inequities. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1962, 46, 161 – 164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, B., & Shelly, R. K. Reactions to inequity II: A replication of the Adams experiment and a theoretical reformulation. Acta Sociologica, 1970, 13, 1 – 10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, B., & Shelly, R. K. Reactions to inequity III: Inequity and social influence. Acta Sociologica, 1971, 14, 236 – 244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, I. R., & Valenzi, E. R. Overpay inequity or self-imageas a worker: A critical examination of an experimental induction procedure. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 1970, 5, 266 – 276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Austin, W. Friendship and fairness: Effects of type of relationship and task performance on choice of distribution rules. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1980, 6, 402 – 407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Austin, W., & McGinn, N. C. Sex differences in choice of distribution rules. Journal of Personality, 1977, 45, 379 – 394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Austin, W., & Susmilch, C. The effect of expected reward and equitableness of reward on satisfaction: A preliminary study. Unpublished manuscript, University of Wisconsin, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Austin, W., & Walster, E. Reactions to confirmations and disconfirmations of expectancies of equity and inequity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1974, 2, 208–216. (a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Austin, W., & Walster, E. Participants– reactions to –Equity with the world.– Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1974, 10, 528–548. (b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bales, R. F. Adaptive and integrative changes as a source of strain in social systems. In A. P. Hare, E. F. Borgatta, & R. F. Bales (Eds.), Small groups: Studies in social interaction. New York: Knopf, 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bem, D. J. Self-perception theory. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology(Vol. 6 ). New York: Academic Press, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkowitz, L. Do we have to believe we are angry with someone in order to display “angry” aggression toward that person? In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Cognitive theories in social psychology. New York: Academic Press, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, R. L. Mastery and justice in laboratory dyads: A revision and extension of equity theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1974, 29, 464 – 474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, R. L. Perceiving justice: An attributional perspective. In J. Greenberg & R. L. Cohen (Eds.), Equity and justice in social behavior. New York: Academic Press, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch, M. Awakening the sense of injustice. In M. J. Lerner & M. Ross (Eds.), The quest for justice: Myth, reality, ideal. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart & Winston of Canada, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch, M. Equity, equality, and need: What determines which value will be used as the basis of distributive justice ? Journal of Social Issues, 1975, 31, 137 – 149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garrett, J. B., & Libby, W. L., Jr. Role of intentionality in mediating responses to inequity in the dyad. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1973, 28, 21 – 27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, J. Justice perceived versus justice enacted. In J. Greenberg (Chair), Recent developments in interpersonal justice theory and research. Symposium presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, New York, September 1979. (a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, J. Protestant ethic endorsement and the fairness of equity inputs. Journal of Research in Personality, 1979, 13, 81–90. (b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, J. Group vs. individual equity judgments: Is there a polarization effect? Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1979, 15, 504–512. (c)

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, J. Attentional focus and locus of outcome causality as determinants of equity behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1980, 38, 579 – 585.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, J. Approaching equity and avoiding inequity in groups and organizations. In J. Greenberg & R. L. Cohen (Eds.), Equity and justice in social behavior. New York: Academic Press, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, J., & Leventhal, G. S. Equity and the use of overreward to motivate performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1976, 34, 179 – 190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, M. S., & Frisch, D. M. Effect of intentionality on willingness to reciprocate a favor. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1972, 8, 99 – 111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homans, G. C. Status among clerical workers. Human Organization, 1953, 12, 5 – 10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Homans, G. C. Social behavior: Its elementary forms. New York: Harcourt, Brace, & World, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacques, E. Equitable payment. New York: Wiley, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janis, I. L. Stress and frustration. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, E. E., & Sigall, H. The bogus pipeline: A new paradigm for measuring affect and attitude. Psychological Bulletin, 1971, 76, 349 – 364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kidd, R. F., & Utne, M. K. Reactions to inequity: A prospective on the role of attributions. Law and Human Behavior, 1978, 2, 301 – 312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langer, E. J. Rethinking the role of thought in social interaction. In J. Harvey, W. Ickes, & R. F. Kidd (Eds.), New directions in attribution research(Vol. 2 ). Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawler, E. E., III. Effects of hourly overpayment on productivity and work quality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1968, 10, 306 – 313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lerner, M. J. The justice motive in social behavior: An introduction. Journal of Social Issues, 1975, 31, 1 – 20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerner, M. J. The justice motive: Some hypotheses as to its origins and forms. Journal of Personality, 1977, 45, 1–52. (a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerner, M. J. The justice motive in social behavior: Hypotheses as to its origins and forms, II. Research grant proposal to the Canada Council, October 1977. (b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal, G. S. The distribution of rewards and resources in groups and organizations. In L. Berkowitz & E. Walster (Eds.), Advances in experimental social psychology(Vol. 9 ). New York: Academic Press, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal, G. S., Allen, J., & Kemelgor, B. Reducing inequity by reallocating rewards. Psychonomic Science, 1969, 14, 295 – 296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal, G. S., Weiss, T., & Long, G. Equity, reciprocity, and reallocating rewards in the dyad. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1969, 13, 300 – 305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacCorquodale, K., & Meehl, P. E. On a distinction between hypothetical construct and intervening variables. Psychological Review, 1948, 55, 95 – 107.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McClintock, C. G. Social motivation—a set of propositions. Behavioral Science, 1972, 17, 438 – 454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, W. R., & Sawyer, J. Bargaining, expectations, and the preferences for equality over equity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1967, 6, 139 – 149.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morse, S. J., Gruzen, J., & Reis, H. T. The nature of equity restoration: Some approval-seeking considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1976, 12, 1 – 8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nisbett, R. E., & Wilson, T. D. Telling more than we can know: Verbal reports on mental processes. Psychological Review, 1977, 84, 231 – 259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prator, S. C., & Greenberg, J. Sex differences in conformity to social justice norms. Unpublished manuscript, Tulane University, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard, R. D., Dunnette, M. D., & Jorgensen, D. O. Effects of perceptions of equity and inequity on worker performance and satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1972, 56, 75 – 94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reis, H. T., & Gruzen, J. On mediating equity, equality, and self-interest: The role of self-presentation in social exchange. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1976, 12, 487 – 503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivera, A. N., & Tedeschi, J. T. Public versus private reactions to positive inequity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1976, 34, 895 – 900.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, S. S. The interaction of cognitive and physiological determinants of emotional state. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology(Vol. 1 ). New York: Academic Press, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, S., & Singer, J. Cognitive, social, and physiological determinants of emotional state. Psychological Review, 1962, 69, 379 – 399.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, E. G. Effect of expectation of future interaction on reward allocation in dyads: Equity or equality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1975, 31, 873 – 880.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, R. L., & Wynne, L. C. Traumatic avoidance learning: The principles of anxiety conservation and partial irreversibility. Psychological Review, 1954, 61, 353 – 385.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Törnblom, K. Y. Distributive justice: Typology and propositions. Human Relations, 1977, 30, 1 – 24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Utne, M. K., & Kidd, R. F. Attribution and equity. In G. Mikula (Ed.), Justice and social interaction. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Avermaet, E., McClintock, C., & Moskowitz, J. Alternative approaches to equity: Dissonance reduction, pro-social motivation and strategic accommodation. European Journal of Social Psychology, 1978, 8, 419 – 437.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walster, E., Berscheid, E., & Walster, G. W. New directions in equity research. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1973, 25, 151–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walster, E., Walster, G. W., & Berscheid, E. Equity: Theory and research. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walster, E., Walster, G. W., & Traupmann, J. Equity and premarital sex. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1978, 36, 82–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, B., Russell, D., & Lerman, D. Affective consequences of causal ascriptions. In J. Harvey, W. Ickes, & R. F. Kidd (Eds.), New directions in attribution research(Vol. 2 ). Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittig, M. R., Marks, G., & Jones, G. A. The effect of luck versus effort attributions on reward allocation to self and other. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1981, 7, 71–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zajonc, R. B. Feeling and thinking: Preferences need no inferences. American Psychologist, 1980, 35, 151–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1984 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Greenberg, J. (1984). On the Apocryphal Nature of Inequity Distress. In: Folger, R. (eds) The Sense of Injustice. Critical Issues in Social Justice. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2683-0_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2683-0_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9669-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2683-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics