Exploring the role of emotions in injustice perceptions and retaliation

Laurie J Barclay; Daniel P Skarlicki; S Douglas Pugh

doi:10.1037/0021-9010.90.4.629

Exploring the role of emotions in injustice perceptions and retaliation

J Appl Psychol. 2005 Jul;90(4):629-43. doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.90.4.629.

Authors

Laurie J Barclay¹, Daniel P Skarlicki, S Douglas Pugh

Affiliation

¹ Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. laurie.barclay@sauder.ubc.ca

PMID: 16060783
DOI: 10.1037/0021-9010.90.4.629

Abstract

Although organizational justice scholars often describe unfairness as an emotionally laden experience, the role of emotion is underresearched. In a study of individuals who experienced being laid off (N = 173), the authors found that outcome favorability interacts with both procedural and interactional justice to predict participants' emotions. The pattern of interaction differed for inward-focused (i.e., shame and guilt) and outward-focused (i.e., anger and hostility) negative emotions. Attributions of blame mediated the relationship between fairness perceptions and outward-focused negative emotion. Outward-focused emotion mediated the relationship between fairness perceptions and retaliation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Affect*
Female
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Middle Aged
Organizational Culture*
Social Justice*
Surveys and Questionnaires