In the field of psychology, there are two origins of concerns of justice. One is the psychology of justice, which arose from the equity theory developed J.S. Adams in the field of social psychology. The other is cognitive-developmental theory on human morality developed by J. Piaget and L. Kohlberg in the field of developmental psychology. In psychology of justice, at the beginnings of 1970's, J. Thibaut conducted research on procedural justice and then psychologists and lawyers have come to share concerns to procedure.
Kohlberg's theory has an influence on the current social philosophy such as Rawls' and Herbermas' and the concept of justice in law.