Legant, P., & Mettee, D. R. (1973). Turning the other cheek versus getting even: Vengeance, equity, and attraction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 25(2), 243-253.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0033958
Examined the hypothesis that a harm-doer's liking for a victim who was to retaliate or to turn the other cheek following injury would depend upon how voluntary the victim's expected response appeared to be. In the context of a learning experiment, 77 high school and college females were led to believe that they had administered shock feedback to a confederate victim. For a 2nd round, the victim was expected to retaliate and return the shock or to turn the cheek and submit to more shock, either in compliance with the E's instructions or by his own choice. In 2 control cells, 1st-round feedback was supposed to consist of signals, while 2nd-round feedback would be shock, and the victim chose either to retaliate or to turn the cheek. As predicted, when the victim's response was determined by the E, a retaliating victim was liked more than a cheek-turning victim. In contrast, when the victim's anticipated behavior was determined by his own choice, the relationship was reversed (p < .01). The control cells indicate that the harm-doer's reaction was due not just to the victim's response but to both his response and the harm-doer's role in previously shocking the victim. Results are discussed in terms of equity theory, and several possible explanations are proposed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)