Chapter 3: Images of Justice: Development of Justice Integration Theory

In isolation, traditional theories of organizational justice have limited utility for understanding fairness perception processes because each discusses somewhat different portions of the process. By integrating these theories with recent work in naturalistic decision making, we can address aspects of this process currently missing from existing models (e.g., how individuals combine justice-related information). Using image theory (Beach, 1990) as a framework, we review the formation of justice perceptions, examine previously unaddressed aspects of this process, and integrate several existing theories. In doing so, we propose justice integration theory. Important elements of this theory include the concept of framing evaluations, the interrelatedness of images of fair treatment and outcomes, the emphasis on violations as a basis for fairness reactions, and the distinction between automatic versus more controlled evaluations of fairness. Propositions and future research related to each of these elements, and important themes that emerge from this theory are discussed.