Self-esteem and social influences on retaliation behavior

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to examine the role of a person's self-esteem and group influences in their reactions to a perceived injustice. Study 1, conducted with a sample of undergraduate business students, indicates that individuals with high self-esteem and stable self-esteem are most likely to respond negatively to a perceived injustice. Study 2 was modified to include the influences of one's group members and how self-esteem interacts with these group influences. This study conducted with current MBA students, demonstrates that one's group can have a significant influence on the perceptions of injustice and one's subsequent reactions to these injustices. Self-esteem was found to not interact with one's group members to predict retaliation behavior.