ABSTRACT
This chapter provides judgments about a need-based salary allocation from a sample of adults actually participating in a setting similar to that in a described allocation situation. It reviews that characteristics of the specific situation make one or another justice norm more salient in forming fairness judgments about resource distributions. Even when a salary distribution is involved, the context of the allocation situation, the goals of the allocation, or the social values of the participants involved may determine which justice rule is used. Social role may influence fairness and satisfaction judgments. Social roles are social structures imposed on role occupants by others and the self through norms and expectations for behavior attached to the occupant’s role position. The chapter shows that the need norm of justice can be the basis for judgments of fairness, satisfaction, organizational obligation, and employee entitlement in a work situation.
