Just-World Phenomenon
By Sara Calder and Angie
Definition
Just-World Phenomenon is the idea that the world is a just place and peoples actions have consequences. This theory is similar to the idea of karma
An Example...
Another Example
Melvin Lerner's Study
Hypothesis: people have a strong desire or need to believe that the world is an orderly, predictable, and just place, where people get what they deserve.
An example of Just-world phenomenon would be that homeless people must be lazy because they have lost everything. If they worked harder to find work they wouldn't be we they are.
People don't like to think of themselves as vulnerable so they blame a crime like rape or murder in the victim. For example they might say that the person deserved it because she was dressing or acting provocative or walking alone in the dark.
In a 1965 study, Lerner reported that subjects who were told that a fellow student had won a cash prize in a lottery tended to believe that the student worked harder than another student who lost the lottery.
Explanation of Experiment
Explanation
People think others get what they deserve so they want to believe that the person who won the money actually deserved it by working harder than the rest. The public wants to see people that work hard do well and get rewarded. Individuals that seem to not be doing well must not be working hard enough according to this theory.
This is an example of just-world phenomenon because they are attributing the outcome on the victims behavior, saying that her actions caused what happened to her, like karma.
Explanation
This is an example because people think homeless people are getting what they deserve because they didn't work hard enough. The punishment they deserve is now they are homeless.
Another Study
Bibliography
In one famous study, two stories about an interaction between a man and woman was described to participants. Both stories were identical in every way except for the final outcome. In one version of the story the woman is raped, while in the other version the man proposes marriage. In both versions of the story, participants directly linked the two drastically different outcomes to the woman's actions.
Cherry, Kendra. "Just WWeb.orld Phenomenon - What Is the Just World Phenomenon." Psychology - Complete Guide to Psychology for Students, Educators & Enthusiasts. N.p., n.d. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://psychology.about.com/od/jindex/f/just-world-phenomenon.htm>. •"Just-world phenomenon." Changing minds and persuasion -- How we change what others think, believe, feel and do. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories
"The Just World Theory ." Santa Clara University -Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/
Explanation of Experiment
This experiment shows just-world phenomenon because the people don't believe that the man had anything to do with it. People want to believe that we bring things on ourselves so they can keep on thinking that our world is not as corrupt as it is.