Origins: the control model
Comparing dispute-resolution procedures, Thibaut and Walker (1975) found that procedures allowing parties to present their case were judged fairer regardless of outcome. They argued that people value process control, or voice, because they want indirect control over outcomes. This marked the start of procedural justice research, distinct from distributive justice concerned with fair outcomes.
The relational model and legitimacy
Lind and Tyler (1988) proposed a relational model: people value procedures not only for outcome control but because procedures signal whether they are respected members of the group. In a survey of Chicago residents, Tyler (1990) showed that people obey the law less from fear of punishment than from a belief that law and authorities are legitimate, and that legitimacy depends heavily on whether police and courts treat them through fair procedures. Tyler (2006) synthesized this psychology of legitimacy.
Police and court research and significance
Sunshine and Tyler (2003) reported that New Yorkers' support for police depended more on perceived procedural fairness than on crime-control performance. Mazerolle et al. (2013) systematically reviewed procedural justice interventions in policing, finding that fair treatment raises citizen satisfaction and confidence. Alongside political trust and organizational justice research, the theory is used to understand acceptance of and cooperation with institutions.
FAQ
- What is procedural justice theory in simple terms?
- Even with an unfavorable result, people accept decisions more readily when they feel the process was fair and they were treated with respect.
- What makes a procedure fair?
- Voice, neutrality of the decision-maker, respectful treatment and trust in the decision-maker are the usual elements.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26
References
- Thibaut, J., & Walker, L. (1975). Procedural justice: A psychological analysis. Lawrence Erlbaum. The founding book of procedural justice research.
- Lind, E. A., & Tyler, T. R. (1988). The social psychology of procedural justice. Plenum Press. Book developing the relational (group-value) model.
- Tyler, T. R. (1990). Why people obey the law. Yale University Press. Classic showing legitimacy drives compliance.
- Tyler, T. R. (2003). Procedural justice, legitimacy, and the effective rule of law. Crime and Justice, 30, 283–357. Broad review linking procedural justice and rule of law.
- Sunshine, J., & Tyler, T. R. (2003). The role of procedural justice and legitimacy in shaping public support for policing. Law & Society Review, 37(3), 513–548. Policing support depends on procedural fairness.
- Tyler, T. R. (2006). Psychological perspectives on legitimacy and legitimation. Annual Review of Psychology, 57, 375–400. Review of the psychology of legitimacy.
- Mazerolle, L., Bennett, S., Davis, J., Sargeant, E., & Manning, M. (2013). Procedural justice and police legitimacy: A systematic review of the research evidence. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 9(3), 245–274. Systematic review of police interventions.