The Role of Affect in the Relationship between Distributive Justice Expectations and Applicants’ Recommendation and Litigation Intentions

This paper examined the role of positive and negative affect in the relationship between distributive justice expectations and applicants? intentions to recommend the organization or to litigate. In addition to direct positive/negative relationships between distributive justice expectations and applicants? intentions to recommend/litigate, a moderating role of positive and negative affect was hypothesized. Specifically, it was suggested and supported in two samples of respectively 1409 and 486 applicants, that the positive relationship between distributive justice expectations and recommendation intentions became stronger for applicants high on positive affect. In the second sample, it was further found that the negative relationship between distributive justice expectations and litigation intentions became stronger for applicants high in negative affect. The study supports the suggestion that whether (un)fairness will result in positive or negative intentions, depends on the affect of the applicant. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.