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Reactions To Refugees: Do Stronger Believers In A Just World Compensate, Dehumanize, And Perceive Refugees As More Responsible For Their Status?, Amanda N. Devaul-Fetters

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This research examined Just World Theory (Lerner, 1970) and dehumanization in the context of refugee claimants. Across three studies, threat to belief in a just world (BJW) was manipulated, participants were provided multiple strategies to restore justice, and individual differences in just world beliefs were measured. In Study One, participants read about a refugee persecuted for either political affiliation or race. Stronger believers in a just world were more likely to assign personal responsibility and a larger scholarship to the refugee than weaker believers. Participants viewed the political refugee as more responsible for his status and participants in the high …