UNDERSTANDING WHY THE JUSTICE OF GROUP PROCEDURES MATTERS - A TEST OFTHE PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF THE GROUP-VALUE MODEL

Procedural justice research has documented many positive consequences of fair decision-making procedures and treatment by authorities. Howev er, it is unclear why these effects of procedural justice occur. The g roup-value model proposes that fair procedures matter because they com municate two symbolic messages about group membership: (a) whether ind ividuals are respected members of a group and (b) whether they should feel pride in the group as a whole. These messages are conveyed by 3 r elational aspects of the actions of authorities-actions that indicate neutrality, trustworthiness, and status recognition. Results from 4 di fferent studies provide evidence that: (a) relational aspects of fair procedures communicate group-relevant information, and (b) this inform ation mediates the influence of procedural judgments on group-oriented behaviors and feelings of self-esteem.