Relational Fairness
Relational fairness is an important concept that involves the belief that individuals have the right to be treated fairly within their personal and professional lives. It encompasses both emotional and practical aspects of human interaction, such as justice, respect, equality, honesty, and mutual consideration. People who feel they are being unfairly treated may experience negative emotions such as anger, frustration, sadness, resentment, and even hatred towards others. These feelings can lead to behaviors that damage relationships, including withdrawal, avoidance, aggression, manipulation, and retaliation. Internal narratives play a significant role in shaping perceptions of relational fairness by influencing how people interpret events and interactions. This paper will discuss several internal narratives that impact perceived fairness, such as sociocultural norms, cognitive biases, self-serving attributions, power dynamics, and self-esteem.
Sociocultural Norms
Sociocultural norms refer to shared expectations about behavior and interaction between individuals within a particular society or culture. These norms influence how people perceive fairness in relationships because they establish social hierarchies and power structures that determine what constitutes appropriate conduct.
Some cultures value individualism while others prioritize collectivism, which affects how individuals view their roles in relationships.
Societies with more rigid gender roles tend to emphasize male dominance over female subordination, leading women to perceive themselves as less entitled to fair treatment than men.
Cognitive Biases
Cognitive biases are systematic errors in thinking that result from mental shortcuts or heuristics. They can distort our understanding of reality, causing us to make unreliable judgments and decisions. One common bias is the fundamental attribution error, which involves assuming that other people's actions reflect their innate qualities rather than external circumstances. In relationships, this can lead to overestimating one's own positive qualities while underestimating those of others, resulting in an unfair advantage. Another bias is the confirmation bias, which causes us to seek out information that confirms our beliefs while ignoring evidence to the contrary. This can lead to perceptions of unfairness when we interpret situations selectively and ignore relevant contextual factors.
Self-Serving Attributions
Self-serving attributions involve explaining successes or failures as a result of personal attributes (e.g., intelligence, effort) while blaming setbacks on external factors (e.g., luck, chance). In relationships, these attributions can cause individuals to feel they deserve special consideration because of their hard work, talent, or potential, while blaming others for negative experiences. This may create a sense of entitlement and resentment towards others who don't reciprocate the same level of investment.
Power Dynamics
Power dynamics refer to the distribution of resources, power, and control within a relationship. Unbalanced power structures often result in unfair treatment because the more powerful individual can exert influence without accountability. This can take many forms, such as manipulation, intimidation, coercion, or exploitation. It can also manifest as subtle behaviors like microaggressions or gaslighting, which undermine the victim's feelings of self-worth and competence. Victims may perceive themselves as less deserving of fair treatment due to their lower status, leading them to accept abuse or mistreatment.
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is an individual's overall evaluation of their worth and value. Low self-esteem can create a sense of inferiority and entitlement, causing people to overestimate their contributions and underestimate those of others. They may feel unworthy of fair treatment, making it difficult to recognize when they are being treated fairly or not. High self-esteem can lead to narcissism, where individuals believe they are inherently better than others and should receive preferential treatment. Both extremes can damage relationships by fostering resentment and competition rather than collaboration and mutual respect.
Internal narratives play a crucial role in shaping perceptions of relational fairness by influencing how we interpret events, emotions, and interactions. Sociocultural norms, cognitive biases, self-serving attributions, power dynamics, and self-esteem all impact our ability to recognize and respond appropriately to situations. By understanding these factors, we can work towards creating more equitable and just relationships that benefit everyone involved.
What internal narratives shape perceptions of relational fairness?
Relational Fairness is defined as the feeling that one's interactions with others are justifiable and equitable. The concept of relational fairness can be shaped by numerous factors such as cultural norms, personal values, past experiences, and social identity. Internal narratives refer to an individual's thoughts and beliefs about themselves, others, and the world around them.