ABSTRACT
Belief in a just world is a deep but largely nonconscious belief that has been extensively studied by psychologists. While it is sometimes a comforting belief, it also causes enormous harm: especially to those who are victims of accidents or attacks or disaster, and who—in order to preserve belief in a just world—are suspected of somehow bringing their suffering on themselves. The obvious implausibility of belief in a just world fails to inhibit its powerful nonconscious influence.
