Mistreatment of Others Affects Observer Justice and Satisfaction: Observer Values are Key

Based on the scope of justice theory, we examine whether and how observers' personal value for diversity moderates their reaction to discrimination against others in the workplace depending on target characteristics (e.g., sex and race). Specifically, we hypothesize that individuals with high personal value for diversity will perceive lower procedural justice toward others and report lower personal job satisfaction when a minority (i.e., female or racial minority) versus majority (i.e., Caucasian male) is mistreated. Findings from an experimental study of 352 university students partly support our predictions. Discrimination against a Caucasian female led to significantly lower procedural justice perceptions and job satisfaction in comparison with mistreatment toward a Caucasian male, only when the observer had high personal value for diversity. These results provide support for the scope of justice theory and extend the vicarious justice literature by identifying personal value for diversity as an import...