The just world phenomenon is the belief that:

The belief in the just world phenomenon posits that individuals have an intrinsic need to believe that the world is fair and just. This leads to the conclusion that good actions are rewarded while bad actions are punished. People adopt this belief as a way to rationalize the outcomes of their experiences and the experiences of others; they find comfort in the idea that the universe operates on principles of fairness and justice.

This approach helps to provide meaning to life events, particularly in the context of misfortune or suffering, suggesting that individuals typically receive outcomes that are proportional to their actions. Thus, when someone encounters adversity, it may lead observers to attribute the misfortune to the individual's past choices or behaviors, reinforcing the belief that good deeds lead to positive outcomes and bad deeds lead to negative ones.

This belief, however, can lead to the victim-blaming mindset, in which those who are suffering are seen as having deserved their plight due to their actions, despite the fact that many factors influencing life circumstances are beyond individual control. Therefore, understanding this phenomenon is vital in the fields of psychology and social behavior, as it informs how people perceive justice, fairness, and moral outcomes in society.