Question 1

Why do people blame victims of crime or misfortune?

Accepted Answer

People blame victims largely to protect their own sense of safety. Accepting that harm strikes randomly is frightening, so the mind concludes the victim must have done something to deserve it, preserving the comforting belief that the world is fair.

Question 2

What is the just-world hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

The just-world hypothesis, named by psychologist Melvin Lerner, is the widely held assumption that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get. It helps motivate effort, but it also pushes people to blame victims when suffering contradicts the belief that the world is fair.

Question 3

Is believing in a just world always harmful?

Accepted Answer

No. When directed at other people, the belief fuels victim blaming. But when applied to one's own life it supports resilience, goal-setting, and persistence, and research links a strong personal just-world belief to lower stress and better mental health.

empathy

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