THE IMPORTANCE OF DISTINGUISHING THE BELIEF IN A JUST WORLD FOR SELF VERSUS FOR OTHERS - IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

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 auth ors assessed subjects' perceptions of depression, stress, and life sat isfaction 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 s tress, and increases in life satisfaction. When the five personality d imensions were included in the analyses, the BJW for self and for othe rs continued to predict life satisfaction but not depression and stres s. The implications of these results concerning the relationship betwe en the BJW and psychological well-being and how the just world is conc eptualized, are discussed.