JUSTICE NORMS IN ALLOCATION DECISIONS: NEED CONSIDERATION AS A FUNCTION OF RESOURCE ADEQUACY FOR COMPLETE NEED SATISFACTION, RECIPIENTS' CONTRIBUTIONS, AND RECIPIENTS' INTERPERSONAL ATTRACTION

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Abstract
The assumption was examined that allocations based on the need principle of distributive justice are dependent upon characteristics of the allocation situation. In a questionnaire experiment, 96 male subjects indicated how they would allocate money between two hypothetical persons who needed different sums of money. Experimental variations included: The possibility/impossibility of entirely satisfying the recipients' needs with the available amount of money; and the interpersonal attraction between the recipients. It was found that the needier person received a larger share (a) when the available sum of money was sufficient to satisfy the persons' needs as opposed to when it was insufficient; (b) when the needier person contributed as much as his partner toward earning the money rather than less; and (c) when the recipients were close friends rather than superficial acquaintances.