Procedural justice, identity and deference to the law: What shapes rule-following in a period of transition?

Abstract

The group engagement model has two core arguments. The first is that procedural justice shapes rule-following in groups, organisations and societies. The second is that the influence of procedural justice upon rule-following is mediated by changes in people's identification with groups. This study uses a sample of South Africans to test both arguments. While the procedural justice argument has already been widely tested and supported, this study extends that test to a society in rapid transition and upheaval. Further, it tests the identity mediation argument in the same context. The results support both arguments. Procedural justice shapes rule-following and that influence is mediated by identification with superordinate authority.