Belief in a Just World and its Political Implications

Key Insight

The 'Belief in a Just World' (BJW) asserts that 'the world is a fair place wherein people get what they deserve and, often, deserve what they get,' and it significantly correlates with political conservatism. This concept, first postulated by social psychologist Melvin Lerner in the 1960s, suggests that people may blame victims of misfortune as a defense mechanism against the anxiety of living in an unjust world. Individuals with a high BJW are more likely to be political conservatives and perceive natural, social, political, and economic inequalities as morally just.

From a conservative perspective, hierarchies reflect inner, individual capabilities, implying that inequalities reveal the worth of 'winners' and 'losers.' The poor are seen as having fewer resources due to a lack of intelligence or moral strength, and criminals commit offenses out of moral weakness. This logic justifies harsher penalties and stronger law enforcement. Conservatives also believe that evil stems from those who try to manipulate or subvert legitimate power hierarchies, viewing figures like atheists, feminists, or environmentalists as inverting a 'Moral Order' that they equate with a 'Natural Order,' such as the 'Great Chain of Being' where powerful beings deservedly occupy the top.

This conservative outlook often leads to the 'naturalistic fallacy,' where what is, is equated with what is morally good. In cases of natural disasters or mass political violence, individuals with high BJW and religiosity justify inequalities by attributing them to the will of God or karma. Examples include European crusaders in 1096 blaming Jews for killing Jesus during pogroms, and televangelist Pat Robertson attributing Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination and Ariel Sharon's stroke to divine punishment for thwarting God's plans. Similarly, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef attributed the 2010 Mount Carmel Forest Fire to the desecration of the Sabbath, preserving the possibility of a just world by blaming the victims.