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Belief in a just world: Review and critique of the individual difference literature
Author(s) -
Furnham Adrian,
Procter Edward
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8309.1989.tb00880.x
Subject(s) - psychology , just world hypothesis , criticism , social psychology , scale (ratio) , epistemology , art , philosophy , physics , literature , quantum mechanics
This article attempts a critical review of the literature on self‐reported just world beliefs a decade after the last major review. The main focus of the review is on the relationship between questionnaire‐derived beliefs in a just world and other psychological and demographic variables. Numerous correlates of the Rubin & Peplau (1973, 1975) scale to measure just world beliefts are documented and evaluated. Particular criticism is aimed at the multidimensional nature of the concept of a just world. Furthermore, it is suggested that three worlds exist — just, unjust and random — that are orthogonal. Suggestions are made about the development of an improved self‐report measure and the direction of research into the aetiology of a belief in a just world in an individual as well as in different cultures.