Experimental Research on Just-World Theory: Problems, Developments, and Future Challenges.
Abstract
M. J. Lerner (1980) proposed that people need to believe in a just world; thus, evidence that the world is not just is threatening, and people have a number of strategies for reducing such threats. Early research on this idea, and on just-world theory more broadly, was reviewed in early publications (e.g., M. J. Lerner, 1980; M. J. Lerner & D. T. Miller, 1978). In the present article, focus is directed on the post-1980 experimental research on this theory. First, 2 conceptualizations of the term belief in a just world are described, the typical experimental paradigms are explained, and a general overview of the post-1980 experiments is provided. Second, problems with this literature are discussed, including the unsystematic nature of the research. Third, important developments that have occurred, despite the problems reviewed, are described. Finally, theoretical challenges that researchers should address if this area of inquiry is to advance in the future are discussed.
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Just-world motivation is done by derogating the victim or perceiving them as dissimilar from oneself.
“This is done by derogating the victim or perceiving them as dissimilar from oneself, and therefore not subject to the fair processes that determine one's own life (Hafer & Bègue, 2005;Lerner & Simmons, 1966).”
From Victim blaming and belief in karma (2024) · cites this paper as Hafer & Bègue, 2005
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Victim blaming and belief in karma
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- Authors
- Hafer, C. L., & Bègue, L.
- Affiliations
- Brock University (CA)
- Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
- Venue
- Psychological Bulletin
- Published
- 2005-01
- Volume
- 131
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 128-167
- ISSN
- 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1455
- OpenAlex
- W1994740631
- Cited by
- 808
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 64 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 42 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 53
- FWCI
- 87.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Keywords
- just world hypothesis, belief in a just world, threat mitigation, experimental paradigms, research challenges, future research directions
- MeSH terms
- Culture, Humans, Psychological Theory, Psychology, Experimental, Social Justice
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