Considering waiting lines as social systems, a short analysis of the nature and types of queues is presented. Four themes of social psychology are used to analyze behavior in waiting lines: (a) social norms and social influence, (b) distributive, procedural and interactional justice, (c) causal attribution, and (d) relations of power and status. Possible topics of research are pointed out in each of these themes, considering the theoretical and applied relevance of problems involving real waiting line situations.
waiting lines; social norms; justice; attribution; power