Why People Obey the Law by Tom R. Tyler

Author:Tom R. Tyler
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 2021-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

The Psychology of Value-Expression

The Chicago study also provides insight into the psychological mechanisms underlying value-expressive process control effects. The most important factor shaping people’s reactions to having process control is their assessment of the degree to which their views are considered by the decision maker (see also Tyler 1987a). Simply providing structural opportunities to speak is not enough to produce value-expressive effects: citizens must also infer that what they say is being considered by the decision maker. Because of this requirement, the prior views that citizens use as a basis for interpreting the actions of the authorities they deal with are an important determinant of whether process control without decision control enhances feelings of fair treatment. If citizens believe that the authorities are fair, they are more likely to interpret favorably a situation of high process control and low decision control. In such a situation those with positive prior views about the authorities are more likely to infer that their views were considered by the decision maker.

Authorities can enhance the acceptance of their decisions by the way they present them to affected parties. The justifications that leaders offer for their actions seem to affect the responses of subordinates to the actions (see Tyler and Bies, in press). According to the Chicago study, one type of justification is likely to be effective in explaining a lack of decision control: the argument that the citizen’s views were considered but (unfortunately) could not influence the decision made. Of course, prior views about the authorities involved will influence the extent to which citizens accept such explanations.

The noninstrumental component of process control effects is of key importance. Citizens do not evaluate their experiences with the police and courts by examining their short-term control over outcomes (Tyler, Rasinski, and Spodick 1985). If they believe that their views are being considered by the authorities, citizens accept a lack of decision control if they have been given the opportunity to state their case.

Although process control effects clearly do not advance self-interest in the short term, it is not clear whether the value-expressive effects of process control found in the Chicago study are noninstrumental in character, or whether they are linked to assessments of long-term self-interest. According to a perspective grounded in long-term self-interest, citizens recognize that they cannot always influence the actions of the authorities. Their allegiance to the group is based on their belief that over time their membership in the group will give them a reasonable level of positive outcomes. This belief can be maintained only if citizens believe that their concerns are being considered by decision-making authorities (Easton 1965; Tyler 1986a). If their views are not considered, citizens will not believe that the authorities are attempting to deal with them in a reasonable way, and long-term allegiance will be called into question.

An alternative perspective on process control focuses on the noninstrumental character of value-expressive effects. According to a noninstrumental perspective, people value the opportunity to address authority figures, irrespective of the effect on decisions of what they say.

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