Voice vs. truth: Differential effects of voice and lying on self- and other-perceived status

This research examines the relationship between two elements of procedural fairness, representativeness (given/denied voice) and ethicality (told the truth/lied to), and how these elements affect individuals’ perceptions of status of themselves and others. Results from four studies revealed that representativeness affected individuals’ self-perceived status, while ethicality affected individuals’ perceptions of status of the other actor. Additionally, we show that the effects can be explained by the extent to which representativeness and ethicality encouraged individuals to focus either on themselves or on the actor who engaged in such actions. This research provides evidence of the relationship between voice, lying, focus, and status, opening up opportunities for future research aimed at better understanding the relationship between different elements of procedural fairness, as well as the relationship between organizational fairness and business ethics more broadly.