Emotional experience and prosocial behavior in observers of unjust situations

J. Van Doorn; M. Zeelenberg; S.M. Breugelmans

Emotional experience and prosocial behavior in observers of unjust situations

J. Van Doorn^*, M. Zeelenberg, S.M. Breugelmans

^*Corresponding author for this work

Social Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

Five studies tested the emotional experience and prosocial motivations in observers (i.e., third parties) of unjust situations. Studies 1 and 2 found that anger was the most dominant emotion experienced in unjust situations, and that prosocial behavior towards a victim decreased when justice had already been restored by compensation of the victim. Study 3 added that the experience of anger also decreases when justice is restored. Study 4 generalized the effects to different types of compensation. Study 5 switches to the perspective of the victim, showing a larger decrease in the most dominant emotion anger
when justice was restored by means of compensation than by punishment. The implications of these findings with regard to third-party emotions and behavior in unjust situations are discussed.
Keywords: injustice, emotion, prosocial, compensation, punishment, third party

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	41-59
Journal	Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice
Volume	15
Issue number	1
Publication status	Published - 2019

Cite this

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title = "Emotional experience and prosocial behavior in observers of unjust situations",

abstract = "Five studies tested the emotional experience and prosocial motivations in observers (i.e., third parties) of unjust situations. Studies 1 and 2 found that anger was the most dominant emotion experienced in unjust situations, and that prosocial behavior towards a victim decreased when justice had already been restored by compensation of the victim. Study 3 added that the experience of anger also decreases when justice is restored. Study 4 generalized the effects to different types of compensation. Study 5 switches to the perspective of the victim, showing a larger decrease in the most dominant emotion angerwhen justice was restored by means of compensation than by punishment. The implications of these findings with regard to third-party emotions and behavior in unjust situations are discussed. Keywords: injustice, emotion, prosocial, compensation, punishment, third party",

author = "{Van Doorn}, J. and M. Zeelenberg and S.M. Breugelmans",

year = "2019",

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AU - Zeelenberg, M.

AU - Breugelmans, S.M.

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N2 - Five studies tested the emotional experience and prosocial motivations in observers (i.e., third parties) of unjust situations. Studies 1 and 2 found that anger was the most dominant emotion experienced in unjust situations, and that prosocial behavior towards a victim decreased when justice had already been restored by compensation of the victim. Study 3 added that the experience of anger also decreases when justice is restored. Study 4 generalized the effects to different types of compensation. Study 5 switches to the perspective of the victim, showing a larger decrease in the most dominant emotion angerwhen justice was restored by means of compensation than by punishment. The implications of these findings with regard to third-party emotions and behavior in unjust situations are discussed. Keywords: injustice, emotion, prosocial, compensation, punishment, third party

AB - Five studies tested the emotional experience and prosocial motivations in observers (i.e., third parties) of unjust situations. Studies 1 and 2 found that anger was the most dominant emotion experienced in unjust situations, and that prosocial behavior towards a victim decreased when justice had already been restored by compensation of the victim. Study 3 added that the experience of anger also decreases when justice is restored. Study 4 generalized the effects to different types of compensation. Study 5 switches to the perspective of the victim, showing a larger decrease in the most dominant emotion angerwhen justice was restored by means of compensation than by punishment. The implications of these findings with regard to third-party emotions and behavior in unjust situations are discussed. Keywords: injustice, emotion, prosocial, compensation, punishment, third party

UR - http://www.apcj.org/journal/index.php?mode=view&item=149

M3 - Article

SN - 1550-4409

VL - 15

SP - 41

EP - 59

JO - Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice

JF - Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice

IS - 1

ER -

Emotional experience and prosocial behavior in observers of unjust situations

Abstract

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