Beliefs in a world of justice: a cognitive invariance or social acquisition?

Abstract

At ‘60s Lerner made a deal of research which allowed him identify a Belief in a Just World. According to this, world is a just place in which people obtain what is deserved. In this paper a research designed to link Belief in a Just World to Piaget’s Immanent Justice is discussed. From data coming from this research the controversy about the genesis of a just world is explored: by a hand, the Lerner’s naturalistic explanation and, by other hand, ideological appropriation advocated by other authors. Arguments are suggested which justify the latter approach. Is stressed, however, the Social Psychology’s claim of give relevance to individual activity on appropriation of collective knowledge.