• DOI:10.1111/J.2044-8309.1989.TB00880.X
• Corpus ID: 146667557

Belief in a just world: Review and critique of the individual difference literature.

@article{Furnham1989BeliefIA,
  title={Belief in a just world: Review and critique of the individual difference literature.},
  author={Adrian Furnham and Eddie Procter},
  journal={British Journal of Social Psychology},
  year={1989},
  volume={28},
  pages={365-384}
}

• A. Furnham, E. Procter
• Published 1 December 1989
• Psychology
• British Journal of Social Psychology

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.