Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The just-world phenomenon is a cognitive bias where people believe that life is fair – that individuals generally get what they deserve, whether it be good or bad.
The tendency for observers, when analyzing another’s behavior, to underestimate situational influences and overestimate personal disposition.
Victim Blaming: Accusing victims for causing their own misfortune due to their actions or failures rather than acknowledging external factors at play.
Karma (in psychology): A concept from Eastern religions applied in psychology as an explanation for why good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people.