General and personal just-world beliefs, gratitude, forgiveness, and cooperativeness: A multiple mediation model. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, Xinyue; Zou, Hehui; Liu, Yiting; Wu, Qin; Cui, Liying
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 203(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: General belief in a just world -- Personal belief in a just world -- Cooperativeness -- Gratitude -- Forgiveness; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.112016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: Belief in a just world (BJW) may influence cooperation, but it is unclear whether general and personal BJW (GBJW and PBJW) have the same impact on cooperativeness in collectivistic cultures as it does in individualistic ones. The present study explored the relationships between GBJW, PBJW, cooperativeness, gratitude, and forgiveness to determine the effect of BJW on cooperativeness and explore possible mediating mechanisms. Data was obtained from self-report questionnaires completed by Chinese university students. The structural equation model with 574 effective questionnaires showed that GBJW positively and PBJW negatively predicted cooperativeness, and gratitude partially mediated these relationships. The results imply that the functions of GBJW and PBJW of Chinese people are different from those in Western cultures. These might indicate the discrepancies in collectivistic and individualistic cultures. The current study adds substantially to our understanding of the adaptive functions of GBJW and PBJW and emphasises the importance of distinguishing between both functions in different cultures. Highlights: We tested the differential effects of PBJW and GBJW in a collectivistic culture. GBJW positively and PBJW negatively predicted cooperativeness in Chinese people. Gratitude partially mediated the link between GBJW and cooperativeness. Gratitude suppressed the effect of PBJW on cooperativeness.