Cognitive Biases: Just World Hypothesis (HL IB Psychology)

Cognitive Biases: Just World Hypothesis

What is cognitive bias?

• A cognitive bias is a faulty or distorted way of perceiving or understanding the world

• A cognitive bias is a kind of heuristic i.e. a short-cut way of thinking which minimises cognitive effort and energy and maximises quick, easy solutions to problems and to decision-making

• Cognitive biases are not the same as prejudice or discrimination, but it could be argued that they contribute to the formation of stereotypes and to the establishment and perpetuation of limited, sometimes harmful, problematic attitudes

• Cognitive biases include (but are not limited to)

  • illusory correlation;

  • confirmation bias;

  • the availability heuristic;

  • anchoring bias;

  • the just-world hypothesis (which is covered in a separate Cognitive Bias Revision Note in the Reliability of Cognitive Processes)

• A cognitive bias has the characteristics of System 1 thinking (see the Revision Note on Thinking & Decision-Making: the Dual Process Model included in Cognitive Processing) in that it is based on intuitive, automatic thinking which requires little or no analysis or reflection

What is the Just-World Hypothesis?

• The Just-World Hypothesis (JWH), proposed by Lerner (1960) is a cognitive bias theory based on the (mistaken) idea that the world is a fair place in which good people are rewarded and bad people are punished (‘just’ i.e. that justice will be done)

• The JWH can be explained in terms of people wishing to believe in a rational world which (to them at least) makes sense because the alternative (that bad things do happen to good people) is a frightening one to contemplate

• The JWH is a factor in victim-blaming - i.e. if the world is a fair and just place then bad things should only happen to bad people, so if someone is homeless then they’ve probably brought it on themselves; if a woman is attacked then she probably encouraged the attack via her clothing or behaviour; if someone collapses on the pavement then they’re probably drunk, it’s their own fault etc.

  • Victim-blaming also involves finding reasons not to help people who are not ‘worthy’ of help because (according to the JWH) they have contributed to their own hardship or misfortune

  • This can make the individual feel better about not helping them, as it eases the burden of guilt

• The JWH may be explained as a means by which people avoid having to dwell on their own vulnerability as potential victims of crime or disaster - i.e. hearing about increasing poverty levels in their own country might lead to thoughts such as, "I work hard, that could never happen to me. Those people who can’t pay their bills must be lazy."

• The JWH may also be explained as a mechanism used to manage anxiety as it (mistakenly) enables the individual to feel that the world is a safe place as long as they behave in a way which will protect them from harm - i.e. by being a ‘good’ person

Is he drunk – or ill? And will this determine the type of help (if any) he is given?

Which research studies investigate the just-world hypothesis?

• Piliavin et al. (1969) – the JWH is a factor in the type of victim who is given help (drunk or disabled)

Piliavin et al. (1969) is available as a separate Key Study – just navigate the Reliability of Cognitive Processes section of this topic to find it (Two Key Studies of Cognitive Biases)