How Belief in a Just World Influences Views of Public Policy, Public Attitudes Toward Low-Income Families and Children Research Report No. 2

The report explains how a person's degree of Belief in a Just World (a psychological concept describing an individual's belief that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get) affects whether they tend to blame others for attempts made to improve their situation. The research finds that a person with a strong belief in a just world tends to believe that a woman is less deserving the more steps she takes to improve her situation, i.e. blaming the victim. Conversely, those with a weak belief in a just world find women more deserving the more efforts they make. Advocates may find this piece helpful for addressing "victim blaming." The report also supports policy/messaging framing that prioritizes/emphasizes social/system accounts as opposed to "individual stories."