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Exploring the Role of Equity Sensitivity in the Relation Between Perceived Injustice and Corrupt Tendencies Among Nigeria Police

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Abstract

Prior research has placed perceived organizational injustice as the main precursor of police corrupt tendencies. However, this line of research has largely ignored the role of equity sensitivity in the relations between organizational injustice and police corrupt tendencies. This is imperative because individuals’ preferences for equal ratio of inputs to outcomes are not the same as the equity theory claimed. Therefore, the current study expanded previous research by examining the impact of equity sensitivity on police corrupt tendencies on one hand, and its moderating role in injustice-corrupt tendencies relationship on the other hand. A sample of 236 police officers in Nigeria participated in the study. Results of the hierarchical regression analysis indicated that corrupt tendencies were lower in police officers with higher equity sensitivity (i.e., benevolents) than those with low equity sensitivity (i.e., entitleds). Furthermore, the negative impact of perceived organizational injustice on corrupt tendencies was weaker for police with higher equity sensitivity. These findings have important implications for managerial practices.

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Data Availability

Data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.

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  1. Department of Pure and Applied Psychology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria

    Anthony Gbenro Balogun

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Correspondence to Anthony Gbenro Balogun.

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Balogun, A.G. Exploring the Role of Equity Sensitivity in the Relation Between Perceived Injustice and Corrupt Tendencies Among Nigeria Police. J Police Crim Psych (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-023-09626-x

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