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MENTAL MODEL · M6346

Just-World Hypothesis

Just-World Hypothesis
BehaviorHigh supportSocial Psychology
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

People tend to believe that the world is just, and that "good is rewarded with good, and evil with evil." Therefore, if a person suffers misfortune (such as rape or poverty), it must be because they did something wrong (victim blaming). This is a cognitive distortion that arises to maintain a sense of security.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

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Reduce cognitive load

A psychological shield of indifference. To avoid the fear that "disaster might randomly strike me too," we instinctively blame the victim. Acknowledging the randomness and injustice of the world is a prerequisite for genuine compassion.

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People tend to believe that 'the world is fair, and good is rewarded with good, and evil with evil,' to maintain a sense of control and security over their environment. The cost is a tendency to attribute misfortune to the victim's own fault.

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just-world_fallacyZH · Explicit
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