Belief in a Just World and the Psychosociological Processes of Racism and Sexism: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This systematic review aims to analyze empirical studies that investigate the relationship between Belief in a Just World (BJW) and the psychosociological processes of prejudice and discrimination, specifically racism and/or sexism. Searches were conducted in the databases LILACS, PePSIC, SciELO, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science using the descriptors: "belief in a just world (BJW)," "sexism," "racism," and "racial prejudice." The PRISMA protocol was followed, including empirical studies published between 2000 and 2024 in English, Portuguese, and Spanish that addressed the relation between BJW and these psychosociological processes. The final sample consisted of 32 articles, which were analyzed using the IRAMUTEQ software, resulting in five thematic classes: "BJW and racism," "BJW, violence, and ambivalent sexism," "BJW and victim blaming," "BJW at the institutional and intervention level," and "BJW in explanations of inequality and violence." The results indicate that BJW is associated with other beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that contribute to the naturalization of social inequalities and social injustices. A predominance of experimental studies was observed, along with recurring themes such as stigmatization, violence, victim blaming, and social exclusion, highlighting the normative role of BJW in sustaining the established social order.