Fairness in Relationships

Distributive and Procedural Justice

The three basic principles of distributive justice are equity, equality, and need. Equity theorists such as Elaine Hatfield and her colleagues were among the first to apply justice theories to the domain of close relationships. Equity exists when partners perceive the same ratio of inputs and outcomes as their partner, or in other words, when partners perceive an equal balance in their relative inputs and outcomes in the relationship. When partners perceive inequity in their relationship (i.e., when they feel overbenefited or under-benefited), they become distressed. Second, people feel a right to be treated equally with others who are like them. According to the equality principle, partners will feel satisfied in their relationship if each receives the same level of outcomes, regardless [Page 589]of their inputs. This principle holds for the distribution of positive outcomes such as goods, benefits, and rewards as well as for negative outcomes such as costs, burdens, and duties. Finally, the need-based principle refers to the rule that resources and outcomes should be allocated on the basis of the partners' needs, regardless of the partners' inputs. Researchers such as Margaret Clark argue that the need-based rule of justice is the prevailing justice norm for close (or communal) relationships, as romantic partners are expected to be responsive to each other's needs, instead of keeping track of inputs and outcomes. Others have shown that exchange principles such as equity and equality also apply to close relationships, for example, when partners divide paid and unpaid (i.e., household) labor, exchange intimate behaviors (e.g., spending time together, sexual relations), and when they regard their overall contributions to the relationship.

Procedural justice entails both formal procedures such as laws and rules and informal procedures such as being treated with dignity and respect or having the opportunity to voice one's opinion. Research in organizational and experimental settings has shown that procedural justice affects human behavior, attitudes, satisfaction, and affective feelings. People are more satisfied with their relationship and more committed to a distribution of outcomes when they have been treated fairly than when they have been treated unfairly. This effect is commonly referred to as the fair process effect: People react more positively to outcomes or other events that follow from fair rather than unfair procedures. Procedural justice is enhanced by the opportunity to express one's views and opinions and the opportunity to present information relevant to the decision (i.e., voice). This effect is commonly referred to as the voice effect: Individuals perceive a procedure to be more fair and satisfying when they are granted voice than when they are not granted voice.

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