Collective Restraint in Social Dilemmas: Procedural Justice and Social Identification Effects on Support for Authorities

This study examined people's willingness to restrain themselves during a naturally occurring social dilemma situation-the 1991 California water shortage. The findings suggest that people are more willing to support authorities who make water conservation decisions when these authorities use fair decision-making procedures. Procedural justice effects were not found to be influenced by the perceived severity of the resource scarcity or the favorability of the authorities' decisions. Rather, they were primarily based on concerns for having positive, relational bonds to the authorities. These relational effects were found to be stronger for those respondents who identify more with their community. The study suggests that the effectiveness of authorities is primarily linked to the nature of their social bonds with community members.