Equity theory and interpersonal attraction

Abstract

To test for the effects of high and low interpersonal attraction in conjunction with overpaid, equitably paid, and underpaid forms of compensation, a 2 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted with 66 short-term employees. Interpersonal attraction was induced by providing employees with information that a coworker possessed highly similar versus dissimilar attitudes. Three levels of piece-rate compensation were created for performing a proofreading task (underpaid, 50 cents per page; equitably paid, 75 cents per page; and overpaid, $1.00 per page). Dependent measures included quantity and quality of performance, and indexes of job satisfaction. The results replicated past findings of equity restoration responses (i.e., participants altered quantity and quality of performance to achieve equity) and identified significant interactions for interpersonal attraction and forms of compensation. Coupled with past findings in the attraction literature, the nature of these interactions suggests that interpersonal attraction may play an important role in determining employee equity restoration responses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)