Theories and Concepts

Just-World Hypothesis

Citation Formats

General Reference

Psychology Atlas. "Just-World Hypothesis." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://psychology.interactiveatlas.org/theories/just-world-hypothesis.

APA Style

Psychology Atlas. (n.d.). Just-World Hypothesis. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://psychology.interactiveatlas.org/theories/just-world-hypothesis

BibTeX

@misc{psychologyatlas-just-world-hypothesis,
  author = {Psychology Atlas},
  title = {Just-World Hypothesis},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://psychology.interactiveatlas.org/theories/just-world-hypothesis},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

Melvin Lerner began the experiments establishing the just-world hypothesis in 1966 at the University of Kansas, studying how people respond emotionally when they witness someone suffer without being able to help them. The finding has since been applied, and criticized, well beyond the laboratory.

Facts

Core Claim

People are motivated to believe the world is fundamentally fair, that actions and conditions bring appropriate, deserved consequences, because this belief helps them feel able to plan and act effectively in their own lives. 1

Origin Year

1966 1

Cross-Tradition Connections

Developed By

Melvin Lerner

In Branch

Social Psychology

Sources

1. Wikipedia: Just-World Hypothesis

Wikimedia FoundationLerner's theory

Quote, Lerner's theory

A just world is one in which actions and conditions have predictable, appropriate consequences.

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