What does equity sensitivity describe in equity theory?

• A. Theories of equity revolve around pay fairness
• B. Equity sensitivity is about job satisfaction
• C. An individual's tolerance for inequity
• D. Equity theory ignores input/output comparisons

Answer: (C)

Equity sensitivity is about how an individual reacts to fairness or unfairness in the balance between what they contribute and what they receive. In equity theory, people judge fairness by comparing their own inputs (like effort and skill) and outputs (like pay and recognition) to those of others. Equity sensitivity describes how strongly a person tolerates any mismatch in that input/output ratio. A person with high equity sensitivity feels even small inequities and is motivated to restore fairness, while someone with low equity sensitivity is more tolerant and less driven to act. This helps explain why people in the same situation respond differently to pay or workload differences. It’s not about job satisfaction alone, nor about pay fairness as an isolated idea, and it centers on how input/output comparisons and perceived equity influence motivation.