The Belief in a Just World and Perceptions of Discrimination

Abstract

We examined the relationship between the belief in a just world and frequency of self-reported acts of personal discrimination. American adults with a strong belief in a just world reported fewer acts of personal discrimination against themselves than those with a weak belief in a just world. Among the various domains of discrimination, the belief in a just world correlated most strongly with religious discrimination. People with a strong belief in a just world felt that they would be less likely to provide special programs and funding based solely on a person's age; they did not feel that age discrimination was prevalent in American society.