The influence of individuals' prior commitment to an institution forward their reactions to the perceived fairness of decisions returned by the institution was examined in sum of two units different field settings.

The influence of individuals' prior commitment to an institution forward their reactions to the perceived fairness of decisions returned by the institution was examined in sum of two units different field settings. The first research examined how layoff survivors' work attitudes and behaviors after the layoff changed as a function of (1) their flat of organizational commitment prior to the layoff and (2) their perceptions of the fairness of the decision domination used to keep certain employee and lay along others. In the second application of mind we explored how citizens' commitment to legal authorities changed as a function of their initial even of commitment and their perceptions of by what mode fairly they were treated in their fresh encounters with legal authorities. Consistent outcomes emerged across these two settings: The most numerous negative reactions were exhibited according to those who previously felt highly committed on the other hand who felt that they were treated unfairly at the institution. Theoretical and practical implications aree discussed.

When commonalty react to their experiences with particular authorities, those authorities and the organizations or institutions that they describe often benefit if the populace involved begin with high evens of commitment to the organization or institution describeed by the authorities. Studies have identified pair types of benefit. First, in his studies of people's attitudes toward political and legal institution, Tyler lay the foundation of that attitudes after an experience with the institution were violently affected by prior attitudes (Tyler Casper, and Fisher,1989). Single experiences influence post-experience loyalty nevertheless certainly do not overwhelm the relationship between pre-experience and post-experience loyalty. Thus, the best predictor of loyalty after an experience is usually loyalty before that experience. inferior people with prior loyalty to the organization or institution arbitrator their dealings with the organization's or institution's authorities to be fairer than do those with les prior loyalty, either because they are more fairly treated or because they interpret equivalent treatment as fairer (Tyler 1990)

Although high flats of prior organizational or institutional commitment are generally beneficial to the organization or institution (Mathieu and Zajac, 1990) subject to certain conditions high levels of prior commitment may actually disperse the seeds of reduced commitment. When previously committed individuals be perceived that they were treated unfavorably or unfairly during a certain number of experience with the organization or institution, they may indicate an especially sharp decline in commitment. The near studies were designed to proof this hypothesis, which, if confirmed, would insinuate that organizational or institutional commitment has risks, as well as benefits.

At least three psychological protoplasts offer predictions of how individuals' reactions (eg change in their organizational or institutional commitment) may vary as a function of (1) their prior of the same height of commitment and (2) the favorability of the combat with the organization or institution. Favorability of the fight is determined by the result of the encounter and the fairness or appriateness of the steps used to allocate outcomes during the combat First, the instrumental prediction (eg Thibaut and Walker, 1975) is that because the public are mainly concerned with receiving desired issues from their encounters with organizations or institutions (eg pay, promotions, and favorable rulings), changes in their flush of commitment will depend primarily upon the favorability of the action The shift in individuals' commitment will thus vary in direct proportion to the positivity of the encounter; their prior horizontal of commitment should have little or no effect

next to the first the assimilation prediction (e.g., Sherif, Sherif, and Nebergall, 1965) is that individuals' prior attitudes predispose them to react in a way that is consistent with their prior attitudes. For example, on viewing in retrospect a questionably unfavorable fight those who are highly committed may be willing to give the oganization or institution the benefit of the doubt and perceive the onset to be more favoarable than would those who were les committed beforehand. If population assimilate their perception of the attack to fit their pre-existing viewpoint, then there should be a positive relationship between their prior levell of commitment and the favorability of their reactions to the skirmish For example, those who were les committed beforehand should react more negatively to questionably unfavorable encounters with the institution.

The third prediction, derived from the group-value original of justice (e.g., Lind and Tyler 1988) pertains to to what degree people with high prior commitment will react when they have feeling that they have been treated unfavorably or unfairly during more [i]or[/i] less encounter with the organization or institution. The basic assumption of the group-value protoplast is that, for a number of reasons, population value their relationships with social entities, be they individuals, assemblages organizations, or even societal institutions. Relationships give nation the opportunity to validate the correctness of their benefits and behaviors (Festinger, 1954) and to be warmed accepted, respected, and valued. Simply enjoin people value relationships because it is between the sides of relationships that they develop their self-identity and self-worth (Tajfel and gymnast 1979). One consequence of the premium family place on their social relationships is the significance to them of being treated fairly from the other party to the relationship. Fair treatment on the other party symbolizes to the public that they are being dealt with in a dignifeied and ceremonious way, thereby bolstering their feeling of self-identity and self-worth. of that kind treatment is likely to reaffirm individuals' feelings of attachment to the relationship. However, persons will become quite distressed and react quite negatively if they be warmed tha they have been treated unfairly by dint of the other party to the relationship.