A three-level meta-analysis of belief in a just world and antisociality: Differences between sample types and scales. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kong, Yuwei; Cui, Lijuan; Yang, Ying; Cao, Muxian
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 182(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Belief in a just world -- Antisocial -- Aggression -- Meta-analysis; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111065
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: Belief in a just world is a positive illusion believing we live in a world where we can get what we deserve. The effect of belief in a just world on antisociality remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to explore the relationship between belief in a just world and antisociality, including emotional, attitudinal, and behavioral indictors. The results that based on 39 articles from a sample size of N = 14, 091 showed that belief in a just world was negatively correlated with antisociality ( r = −0.160, p < .001). Moderator analysis indicated that the association between belief in a just world and antisociality seemed to weaken with increasing social experience. This association was stronger among students than people already employed. Besides, studies using one-dimensional belief in a just world scales and the personal belief in a just world scale showed similar effect sizes, and studies using the general belief in a just world scale showed smaller effect sizes. But no significant relationship between belief in a just world and antisociality was found in the studies that used the belief in a just world for others scale. These results seemed to indicate some subtle differences between scales used to measure belief in a just world and dimensions.