Retributive Justice at Work: Explaining Targeted Violence After Interpersonal Mistreatment

Abstract: Workplace violence is often depicted as senseless or impulsive, yet many incidents emerge from a patterned psychological and relational process rooted in perceived injustice. This article introduces the Interactional Injustice–Justice Orientation Pathway Model, a framework explaining how interpersonal mistreatment (e.g., bullying, harassment, discrimination) can escalate into morally framed, retributive retaliation. Drawing on an archival analysis of evidentiary documentation (e.g., 911 calls, police narratives, perpetrator and witness interviews, and credible news sources), data were examined using grounded theory methods. Findings indicate that perpetrators frequently described prolonged peer-based mistreatment involving humiliation and dehumanization, alongside perceptions that grievance systems were ineffective. Retaliatory violence was targeted, planned, and directed toward those deemed responsible for interpersonal mistreatment, while others were deliberately spared. Building on these patterns, the article identifies three justice orientations—procedural, resigned, and retributive—that shape employees' responses to mistreatment. Practical implications underscore the importance of dignity-based climates and credible grievance mechanisms.

Keywords: Workplace Violence; Interactional Justice; Workplace Grievance; Retributive Retaliation