Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Justice for whom, exactly? Beliefs in justice for the self and various others.

Cole

Authors



Abstract

The present studies examine why people think the world is more just to themselves than to others generally. Beliefs in justice for the self were uniquely associated with psychological adjustment, consistent with the theoretical motive to believe in justice for the self (Studies 1 and 2). However, this "justice motive" did not appear to affect the relative strength of justice beliefs. Instead, self-other differences in justice beliefs appeared to reflect objective assessments of the justice received by various demographics. Undergraduates believed the world to be more just to themselves than to others but not their undergraduate peers specifically (Study 1). Participants of both genders believed the world to be more just to men, and to themselves, than to women (Study 2). Women did not exempt themselves individually from injustice but believed, similar to men, that undergraduate women receive as much justice as men (Study 3).

Acceptance Date Apr 1, 2008
Publication Date Apr 1, 2008
Journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Print ISSN 0146-1672
Publisher SAGE Publications
Pages 528 - 541
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167207312526
Publisher URL https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167207312526