The Fair Process Effect

Kees van den Bos is Professor of Social Psychology and Professor of Empirical Legal Science at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. His research answers basic questions as to why perceived fairness and justice matter so much to people. These insights are used by citizens, practitioners, and governments to understand and prevent conflicts and discontent in society.

• Preface; Part I. Introduction; 1. A Framework for Understanding Societal Discontent; Part II. Perceiving Procedural Fairness: 2. Criteria; 3. Psychological Processes; Part III. The Fair Process Effect: 4. Basic Review; 5. Psychological Processes; Part IV. Examining Societal Discontent: 6. Distrust; 7. Polarization; 8. Conspiracy Thinking; Part V. Overcoming Societal Discontent: 9. Opening Up; 10. The Future; Acknowledgements; References; Index.

'As one of the world's most important scientific contributors to the study of fair processes throughout his career, Kees van den Bos covers the literature comprehensively. In this book, he uses his encyclopedic knowledge to define and operationalize the research on perceived procedural justice as applied to societal discontent, polarization, conspiracy thinking, and the prevention of unwarranted distrust. It is an extraordinary accomplishment.' Robert Folger, University of Central Florida, USA