Degree Type
Thesis
Date of Award
2011
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Zlata Krizan
Abstract
Envy often manifests as hostility or derogation of the superior individual. Two experiments investigated whether perceptions of injustice shape such hostility (in the envier). In Experiment 1, responses of participants to hypothetical scenarios showed that people experience more envious hostility toward another individual when their inferior outcomes are unfairly (compared to fairly) determined, and that judgments of situational fairness mediated this relation. In Experiment 2, participants received bogus feedback about the superiority of another. Participants' reports of envious hostility were not significantly different across levels of fairness. However, perceptions of fairness correlated with envious reactions. Both experiments employed an external agent as the perpetrator of injustice. Anger toward this agent strongly predicted envious reactions. Taken together, the data suggest perceived fairness does play a role in envious hostility.
Copyright Owner
Omesh Johar
Copyright Date
2011
Language
en
Date Available
2012-04-30
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
79 pages
Recommended Citation
Johar, Omesh, "What makes envy hostile: Perceived injustice, or a frustrated search for an explanation?" (2011). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 12158.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/12158
