Beliefs in a Just World as a Buffer Against Anger |
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Authors: | Dalbert Claudia |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Educational Psychology, Martin Luther University of Halle, Germany;(2) Wittenberg, Franckesche Stiftungen, Haus 5, D-06099 Halle (Saale), Germany |
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Abstract: | Anger is the emotion typically accompanying unfairness appraisals. Belief in a just world (BJW) was expected to buffer against angry feelings because subjects high in BJW play down unfairness, justify unfairness as being self-inflicted, and avoid self-focused rumination. Three studies were run to test this hypothesis. A questionnaire study revealed that subjects who strongly endorse the belief in a personally just world are less likely to experience anger and, if they do experience such feelings, are less likely to suppress them. In two experiments, an angry, a happy, or a sad mood was induced. In the anger-evoking condition, subjects high in BJW were less angry and suffered no decrease in self-esteem compared to subjects low in BJW, who reported increased feelings of anger and decreased self-esteem. It is concluded that individuals high in BJW are better able to cope with anger-evoking situations, and that BJW can be seen as a personal resource protecting not only mental but also physical health. |
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Keywords: | just world beliefs anger anger expression style self-esteem mood induction mental health |
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