The Formation of the Desire for Retribution

Abstract

In this paper I examine how aspects of a person who commits an organizational violation affect a third-party observer’s desire that the person be punished. Specifically I look at how the third party’s desire for retribution is affected by the offending party’s past behavior and offer of an apology. I further propose a model of desire for retribution in which observers rely on aspects of the violation (such as severity) and aspects of the violator (such as a previous history of the violation) to determine the strength of this desire. Using repeated measures ANOVAs I found that apologies reduce the desire for punishment (F=8.55, p<.01, eta=.09), while a history of the offense increases it (F=11.08, p<.00, eta=.12). Also, desire for punishment is highest when there is no apology with a previous history of the offense and is lowest when there is an apology and no history (F=12.95, p<.00, eta=.13). Violation severity has a main effect on desire for retribution (F=24.48, p<.00, eta=.20) and it also interacts with apology and history, with history making a difference regardless of severity, but apologies having no effect with severe violations (F=12.95, p<.00, eta=.13).