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Belief in a Just World and Its Social Consequences

Year 2019, Volume: 14 Issue: 20, 2227 - 2247, 31.12.2019
https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.610173

Abstract

According to the belief in a just world theory, developed by Lerner
(1975), people need to believe that they live in a just world where everyone
lives what they deserve, good persons are rewarded while bad persons are
punished. Lerner stated that belief in a just world is an illusion infact the
world is not always fair, however, just world belief plays an important role in
feeling secure.  This belief leads to
individuals to perceive their social and physical environment as fair,
predictable, and controllable. Thus they look to the future with confidence and
they can strive to reach their long-term goals. According to the theory,
innocent victims threaten people’s belief in a just world, to cope with this
threat and to maintain their beliefs people use cognitive distortions such as
blaming or derogating the victim alongside the rational strategies such as
helping to the victim. Blaming the innocent victims has severe consequences not
only for victims but also for the whole society. In this review main
propositions of Lerner’s belief in a just world theory and the results of the
empirical studies testing these propositions were presented. Then the social
consequences of blaming or derogating innocent victims in order to protect the
just world belief were discussed.

References

  • Adolfsson, K. ve Strömwall, L.A. (2017). Situational variables or beliefs? A multifaceted approach to understanding blame attributions. Psychology, Crime & Law, 23(6), 527-552.
  • Appelbaum, L.D. (2002) Who deserves help? students’ opinions about the deservingness of different groups living in Germany to receive aid. Social Justice Research, 15(3), 2001-225.
  • Bierhoff, H.W., Klein, R. ve Kramp, P. (1991). Evidence for the altruistic personality from data on accident research. Journal of Personality, 59(2), 263-280.
  • Brewer, W. F. (1996). Good and bad story endings and story completeness" In (R. J. Kreuz and M. S. MacNealyeds.) Empirical Approaches to Literature and Aesthetics, (261-271) Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
  • Campbell D., Carr S. C. ve MacLachlan M. (2001). Attributing “third world” poverty in Australia and Malawi: a case of donor bias? Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31, 409–430.
  • Chapin, J. ve Coleman, G. (2017). Children and adolescent victim blaming. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 23(4), 438–440.
  • De Judicibus, M. ve McCabe, M.P. (2001). Blaming the target of sexual harassment: impact of gender role, sexist attitudes, and work role. Sex Roles, 44, 401-417.
  • Dik, T. (2010) Atasözlerinde adil dünya inancı. Milli Folklor, 22(88), 28-32.
  • Hafer, C.L. (2000). Do innocent victims threaten the belief in a just world? evidence from a modified stroop Task. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79(2), 165-173.
  • Hayes, R.M., Lorenz, K., ve Bell, K. A. (2013). Victim blaming others: Rape myth acceptance and the just world belief. Feminist Criminology, 8(3), 202-220.
  • Jose, P.E. ve Brewer, W.F. (1984). Development of story liking: character identification, suspense, and outcome resolution. Developmental Psychology, 20(5), 911-924.
  • Jose, P. E., D’Anna, C.A. ve Krieg, D.B. (2005). Development of the comprehension and appreciation of fables. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 131(1), 5–37.
  • Kleinke, C.L. ve Meyer, C. (1990). Evaluation of rape victim by men and women with high and low belief in a just world. Psychology of Woman Quarterly, 14(3), 343-353.
  • Kristiansen, C., ve Giulietti, R. (1990). Perceptions of wife abuse: Effects of gender, attitudes toward women, and just-world beliefs among college students. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 14, 177–189.
  • Lerner, M. J. (1965). Evaluation of performances as a function of performer’s reward and attractiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1, 355–360.
  • Lerner, M. J. (1975). The justice motive in social behavior:Introduction. Journal of Social Issues, 31, 1–20.
  • Lerner, M. J. (1980). The Belief In A Just World: A Fundamental Delusion. New York: Plenum Press.
  • Lerner, M. J. (1998). The two forms of belief in a just world: Some thoughts on why and how people care about justice.In (L. Montada, M. Lerner ve J. Melvin Eds). Responses To Victimizations and Belief in a Just World, (s. 247-269). New York: Plenum Press.
  • Lerner, M. J. ve Miller, D. T. (1978). Just world research and the attribution process: Looking back and ahead. Psychological Bulletin, 85, 1030-1051.
  • Lerner, M. J. ve Simmons, C. H. (1966). Observer’s reaction to the “innocent victim”: Compassion or rejection? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 4, 203–210.
  • Mohiyeddini, C. ve Montada, L. (1998). BJW and self-efficacy in coping with observed victimization: results from a study about unemployment. In (L. Montada, M. Lerner ve J. Melvin Eds. Responses to Victimizations and Belief in a Just World, (s. 41-54). New York: Plenum Press.
  • Montada, L. (1998). Belief in a just world: A hybrid of justice motive and self-interest? In (L. Montada, M. Lerner ve J. Melvin) Eds. Responses to Victimizations and Belief in a Just World, (sayfa 216-246). New York: Plenum Press.
  • Poon, K. ve Chen, Z. (2015). How does the source of rejection perceive innocent victims? The Journal of Social Psychology, 155, 515–526.
  • Reichle, B., Schneider, A. ve Montada, L. (1998). How do observers of victimization preserve their belief in a just world cognitively or actionally? Findings from a longitudinal study.In (L. Montada, M. Lerner ve J. Melvin Eds). Responses to Victimizations and Belief in a Just World, (s. 55-64). New York: Plenum Press.
  • Rubin, Z. ve Peplau, L. A. (1975). Who believes in a just world. Journal of Social Issues, 31(3), 65-90.
  • Rubin, Z. ve Peplau, L. A. (1973). Belief in a just world and reactions to another’s lot: a study of participants in the national draft lottery. Journal of Socıal Issues, 29(4), 73-93.
  • Russell, K.J. ve Hand, C.J. (2017). Rape myth acceptance, victim blame attribution and just world beliefs: A rapid evidence assessment. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 37, 153-160.
  • Strömwall, L.A. Alfredsson, H. ve Landström, S. (2012). Blame attributions and rape: effects of beliefin a just world and relationship level. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 18, 254–261.
  • Vonderhaar, R.L. ve Carmody, D.C. (2015). There are no “innocent victims”: The influence of just world beliefs and prior victimization on rape myth acceptance. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30(10), 1615-1632.
  • Yalçın, M.A. ve Öztürk, E. (2018). Cinsel saldırı suçu mağduru kadınlara karşı toplumsal tutumlar ile adil dünya inancı ve çelişik duygulu cinsiyetçiliğin ilişkisi. Türkiye Klinikleri Journal of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences, 15(2), 43-51.
  • Yalçın, Z.S. (2006). Effects of ambivalent sexism, locus of control, empathy, and belief in a just world on attitudes toward rape victims. Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi, Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Ankara.
  • Yıldırım, N. ve Akgün, S. (2013). Sivil toplum kuruluşu gönüllülerinin sosyal sistemin meşruiyetine ilişkin algıları, adil dünya inançları ve sosyal baskınlık yönelimleri. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet, 24(1), 115-128.
  • Zuckerman, M. (1975). Belief in a just world and altruistic behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31(5), 972-976.

Adil Dünya İnancı ve Toplumsal Sonuçları

Year 2019, Volume: 14 Issue: 20, 2227 - 2247, 31.12.2019
https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.610173

Abstract

Lerner’in Adil Dünya İnancı Kuramına göre (1975) insanlar herkesin
genellikle hak ettiğini elde ettiği, iyilerin ödüllendirilip kötülerin
cezalandırıldığı adil bir dünyada yaşadığına inanma ihtiyacındadır. Lerner adil
dünya inancının bir yanılsama olduğunu, gerçekte dünyanın çok adil olmadığını ancak
bu inancın kişinin kendini güvende hissetmesi için önemli olduğunu
vurgulamıştır. Bu inanç bireylerin sosyal ve fiziksel çevrelerini adil,
yordanabilir ve konrol edilebilir görmelerini kolaylaştırır. Böylece geleceğe
güvenle bakabilir ve uzun vadeli amaçlarına ulaşmak için çabalayabilirler.
Kurama göre masum kurbanlar insanların adil dünya inancını tehdit eder. Bu
tehditle baş edebilmek ve bu inancı koruyabilmek için kurbana yardım etme gibi
akılcı yolların yanı sıra kurbanı suçlama ya da değersizleştirme gibi bilişsel
çarpıtmalar da kullanılabilmektedir. Kurbanı suçlamanın toplumsal sonuçları son
derece ciddi görünmektedir. Bu derleme çalışmasında Lerner tarafından
geliştirilen Adil Dünya İnancı Kuramının temel önermeleri ve bu önermeleri test
eden görgül araştırma bulguları sunulmuştur. Adil dünya inancını korumak uğruna
kurbanı suçlamanın ya da değersizleştirmenin toplumsal sonuçları tartışılmıştır. 

References

  • Adolfsson, K. ve Strömwall, L.A. (2017). Situational variables or beliefs? A multifaceted approach to understanding blame attributions. Psychology, Crime & Law, 23(6), 527-552.
  • Appelbaum, L.D. (2002) Who deserves help? students’ opinions about the deservingness of different groups living in Germany to receive aid. Social Justice Research, 15(3), 2001-225.
  • Bierhoff, H.W., Klein, R. ve Kramp, P. (1991). Evidence for the altruistic personality from data on accident research. Journal of Personality, 59(2), 263-280.
  • Brewer, W. F. (1996). Good and bad story endings and story completeness" In (R. J. Kreuz and M. S. MacNealyeds.) Empirical Approaches to Literature and Aesthetics, (261-271) Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
  • Campbell D., Carr S. C. ve MacLachlan M. (2001). Attributing “third world” poverty in Australia and Malawi: a case of donor bias? Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31, 409–430.
  • Chapin, J. ve Coleman, G. (2017). Children and adolescent victim blaming. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 23(4), 438–440.
  • De Judicibus, M. ve McCabe, M.P. (2001). Blaming the target of sexual harassment: impact of gender role, sexist attitudes, and work role. Sex Roles, 44, 401-417.
  • Dik, T. (2010) Atasözlerinde adil dünya inancı. Milli Folklor, 22(88), 28-32.
  • Hafer, C.L. (2000). Do innocent victims threaten the belief in a just world? evidence from a modified stroop Task. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79(2), 165-173.
  • Hayes, R.M., Lorenz, K., ve Bell, K. A. (2013). Victim blaming others: Rape myth acceptance and the just world belief. Feminist Criminology, 8(3), 202-220.
  • Jose, P.E. ve Brewer, W.F. (1984). Development of story liking: character identification, suspense, and outcome resolution. Developmental Psychology, 20(5), 911-924.
  • Jose, P. E., D’Anna, C.A. ve Krieg, D.B. (2005). Development of the comprehension and appreciation of fables. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 131(1), 5–37.
  • Kleinke, C.L. ve Meyer, C. (1990). Evaluation of rape victim by men and women with high and low belief in a just world. Psychology of Woman Quarterly, 14(3), 343-353.
  • Kristiansen, C., ve Giulietti, R. (1990). Perceptions of wife abuse: Effects of gender, attitudes toward women, and just-world beliefs among college students. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 14, 177–189.
  • Lerner, M. J. (1965). Evaluation of performances as a function of performer’s reward and attractiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1, 355–360.
  • Lerner, M. J. (1975). The justice motive in social behavior:Introduction. Journal of Social Issues, 31, 1–20.
  • Lerner, M. J. (1980). The Belief In A Just World: A Fundamental Delusion. New York: Plenum Press.
  • Lerner, M. J. (1998). The two forms of belief in a just world: Some thoughts on why and how people care about justice.In (L. Montada, M. Lerner ve J. Melvin Eds). Responses To Victimizations and Belief in a Just World, (s. 247-269). New York: Plenum Press.
  • Lerner, M. J. ve Miller, D. T. (1978). Just world research and the attribution process: Looking back and ahead. Psychological Bulletin, 85, 1030-1051.
  • Lerner, M. J. ve Simmons, C. H. (1966). Observer’s reaction to the “innocent victim”: Compassion or rejection? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 4, 203–210.
  • Mohiyeddini, C. ve Montada, L. (1998). BJW and self-efficacy in coping with observed victimization: results from a study about unemployment. In (L. Montada, M. Lerner ve J. Melvin Eds. Responses to Victimizations and Belief in a Just World, (s. 41-54). New York: Plenum Press.
  • Montada, L. (1998). Belief in a just world: A hybrid of justice motive and self-interest? In (L. Montada, M. Lerner ve J. Melvin) Eds. Responses to Victimizations and Belief in a Just World, (sayfa 216-246). New York: Plenum Press.
  • Poon, K. ve Chen, Z. (2015). How does the source of rejection perceive innocent victims? The Journal of Social Psychology, 155, 515–526.
  • Reichle, B., Schneider, A. ve Montada, L. (1998). How do observers of victimization preserve their belief in a just world cognitively or actionally? Findings from a longitudinal study.In (L. Montada, M. Lerner ve J. Melvin Eds). Responses to Victimizations and Belief in a Just World, (s. 55-64). New York: Plenum Press.
  • Rubin, Z. ve Peplau, L. A. (1975). Who believes in a just world. Journal of Social Issues, 31(3), 65-90.
  • Rubin, Z. ve Peplau, L. A. (1973). Belief in a just world and reactions to another’s lot: a study of participants in the national draft lottery. Journal of Socıal Issues, 29(4), 73-93.
  • Russell, K.J. ve Hand, C.J. (2017). Rape myth acceptance, victim blame attribution and just world beliefs: A rapid evidence assessment. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 37, 153-160.
  • Strömwall, L.A. Alfredsson, H. ve Landström, S. (2012). Blame attributions and rape: effects of beliefin a just world and relationship level. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 18, 254–261.
  • Vonderhaar, R.L. ve Carmody, D.C. (2015). There are no “innocent victims”: The influence of just world beliefs and prior victimization on rape myth acceptance. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 30(10), 1615-1632.
  • Yalçın, M.A. ve Öztürk, E. (2018). Cinsel saldırı suçu mağduru kadınlara karşı toplumsal tutumlar ile adil dünya inancı ve çelişik duygulu cinsiyetçiliğin ilişkisi. Türkiye Klinikleri Journal of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences, 15(2), 43-51.
  • Yalçın, Z.S. (2006). Effects of ambivalent sexism, locus of control, empathy, and belief in a just world on attitudes toward rape victims. Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi, Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Ankara.
  • Yıldırım, N. ve Akgün, S. (2013). Sivil toplum kuruluşu gönüllülerinin sosyal sistemin meşruiyetine ilişkin algıları, adil dünya inançları ve sosyal baskınlık yönelimleri. Toplum ve Sosyal Hizmet, 24(1), 115-128.
  • Zuckerman, M. (1975). Belief in a just world and altruistic behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31(5), 972-976.
There are 33 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Psychology
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Serap Akgün 0000-0002-6733-6188

Publication Date December 31, 2019
Acceptance Date December 19, 2019
Published in Issue Year 2019 Volume: 14 Issue: 20

Cite

APA Akgün, S. (2019). Adil Dünya İnancı ve Toplumsal Sonuçları. OPUS International Journal of Society Researches, 14(20), 2227-2247. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.610173