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Beliefs in a Just World as a Buffer Against Anger

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Abstract

Anger is the emotion typically accompanying unfairness appraisals. Belief in a just world (BJW) was expected to buffer against angry feelings because subjects high in BJW play down unfairness, justify unfairness as being self-inflicted, and avoid self-focused rumination. Three studies were run to test this hypothesis. A questionnaire study revealed that subjects who strongly endorse the belief in a personally just world are less likely to experience anger and, if they do experience such feelings, are less likely to suppress them. In two experiments, an angry, a happy, or a sad mood was induced. In the anger-evoking condition, subjects high in BJW were less angry and suffered no decrease in self-esteem compared to subjects low in BJW, who reported increased feelings of anger and decreased self-esteem. It is concluded that individuals high in BJW are better able to cope with anger-evoking situations, and that BJW can be seen as a personal resource protecting not only mental but also physical health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Psychology, Martin Luther University of Halle, Germany

    Claudia Dalbert

  2. Wittenberg, Franckesche Stiftungen, Haus 5, D-06099, Halle (Saale), Germany

    Claudia Dalbert

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Dalbert, C. Beliefs in a Just World as a Buffer Against Anger. Social Justice Research 15, 123–145 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019919822628

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