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 belief is the tendency for individuals to believe that people generally get what they deserve and deserve what they get, assuming that the world is fair.
Related terms
Self-serving bias: The tendency for individuals to attribute their successes to internal factors but blame external factors for their failures.
Fundamental attribution error: The tendency for individuals to overemphasize internal characteristics when explaining others' behavior while underestimating situational factors.
Cognitive dissonance theory: The psychological discomfort experienced when our attitudes and behaviors are inconsistent, leading us to change our beliefs or justify our actions.