This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lipkusa, I. M. Articles by Siegler, I. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Lipkusa, I. M. Articles by Siegler, I. C. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Importance of Distinguishing the Belief in a Just World for Self Versus for Others: Implications for Psychological Well-Being

Duke University Medical Center

Claudia Dalbert

Eberhard-Karls-Universitat Tubingen

Ilene C. Siegler

Duke University Medical Center

Studies have shown that the belief in a just world (BJW) is related to psychological well-being. The authors suggest that studies exploring this relationship might benefit by making the distinction between the BJW for self versus for others or in general. In two studies, the authors assessed subjects' perceptions of depression, stress, and life satisfaction for self and for others. Subjects also completed measures of the five-factor model of personality. As predicted, the BJW for self most strongly and consistently predicted decreases in depression and stress, and increases in life satisfaction. When the five personality dimensions were included in the analyses, the BJW for self and for others continued to predict life satisfaction but not depression and stress. The implications of these results concerning the relationship between the BJW and psychological well-being, and how the just world is conceptualized, are discussed.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. M. Sutton, K. M. Douglas, K. Wilkin, T. J. Elder, J. M. Cole, and S. Stathi Justice for Whom, Exactly? Beliefs in Justice for the Self and Various Others Pers Soc Psychol Bull, April 1, 2008; 34(4): 528 - 541. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Dalbert and E. Filke Belief in a Personal Just World, Justice Judgments, and Their Functions for Prisoners Criminal Justice and Behavior, November 1, 2007; 34(11): 1516 - 1527. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. R. Kaiser, P. S. Dyrenforth, and N. Hagiwara Why are attributions to discrimination interpersonally costly? A test of system- and group-justifying motivations. Pers Soc Psychol Bull, November 1, 2006; 32(11): 1423 - 1536. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Dalbert and J. Stoeber The personal belief in a just world and domain-specific beliefs about justice at school and in the family: A longitudinal study with adolescents International Journal of Behavioral Development, May 1, 2006; 30(3): 200 - 207. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. T. O'Brien and B. Major System-Justifying Beliefs and Psychological Well-Being: The Roles of Group Status and Identity Pers Soc Psychol Bull, December 1, 2005; 31(12): 1718 - 1729. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. J. Lambert and K. Raichle The Role of Political Ideology in Mediating Judgments of Blame in Rape Victims and their Assailants: A Test of the Just World, Personal Responsibility, and Legitimization Hypotheses Pers Soc Psychol Bull, September 1, 2000; 26(7): 853 - 863. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. J. Lambert, T. Burroughs, and T. Nguyen Perceptions of Risk and the Buffering Hypothesis: The Role of Just World Beliefs and Right-Wing Authoritarianism Pers Soc Psychol Bull, June 1, 1999; 25(6): 643 - 656. [Abstract] [PDF]

				I. M. Lipkus and V. L. Bissonnette Relationships among Belief in a Just World, Willingness to Accommodate, and Marital Well-Being Pers Soc Psychol Bull, October 1, 1996; 22(10): 1043 - 1056. [Abstract]