I have come across the just world hypothesis in my previous research, I found studies that suggest people who read or watch a large amount of fiction will have stronger beliefs in a 'just world' than people that don't. On the surface this looks like it could be a good thing, feeling that you live in a just world will encourage you to be kind and honest in the belief that you will be repaid for your actions, and in a sense you will. being kind will often illicit a similar response from another person. The problem with the 'just world hypothesis' is that if you believe we live in a just world even though facts and figures would suggest we don't then if you see someone in pain and suffering it is possible that you will assume that they must deserve their fate. I don't think there is any malicious intent in these thoughts but rather a need to make sense of the world around us. It is a scary thought that we could be living in a world where you can be the best you can be and still suffer because of it or that someone who acts in malicious, destructive ways can prosper but unfortunately we do. Neil Gaiman said that fiction provides us with tools and weapons to help us deal with our real lives and these findings would support that, the problem is trying to find out whether these tools are beneficial to society.
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