The Experience of Injustice Social Psychological and Clinical Perspectives

Abstract

Despite our universal social need for justice, the presence of injustice is ubiquitous between people, groups, and societies. How the injustice is perceived and interpreted will determine how the individual respondsto it. On a social level, the individual’s perception of the source of injustice may result in attempts to rescue or make restitution to the victim or, alternatively, in attempts to blame the victim. On an internal, emotional level, the experience of oneself or of others as the victims or perpetrators of injustice has emotional sequelae—including, at times, an overall sense of the self as an innocent or responsible victim or harmdoer. These self-perceptions will, in turn, alter the individual’s social behavior toward others who are themselves victims or harmdoers.