ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the relationship between the uncertain self and how people respond to fair and unfair events. In this chapter we intend to argue for two general messages. First, we will propose that experienced fairness may have some special qualities that cause fairness judgments to have an especially strong impact on people's reactions when they are uncertain about themselves or even when they have only been reminded briefly about their personal uncertainties. We argue that these qualities of fairness judgments probably have something to do with the experience of fair treatment being especially well-suited for people to rely upon as they seek to manage personal uncertainty. The experience of fair or unfair treatment seems thus to be involved in processes of self-regulation. In making our case, we will argue that both social psychology in general and the literature on the uncertain self in particular can learn important things from the study of fairness judgments. We review research findings and discuss conceptual ideas that reveal some clear instances in which the social psychology of fairness judgments provides new insights compared to other social psychological theories and research findings.
