The Impact Of General Just World Belief On Victim Blaming: The Moderating Role Of Interpersonal Interdependenc

During COVID-19 control,there are many cases in which those infected and cured of COVID-19 are blamed,expelled and even discriminated against.Research showed that general belief in a just world(GBJW)influence victim-blaming.Can the GBJW cause victim blaming(e.g.,the blaming of persons infected with COVID-19)during a major social disaster? Does interpersonal interdependence influence the process by which GBJW influences victim blaming?For this study,two studies were conducted to explore these two questions during the strict control period of COVID-19 epidemic.In the background of the COVID-19 control period,Study 1(N = 100)manipulated GBJW to investigate the impact of GBJW on victim blaming(i.g.,persons infected with COVID-19).The results indicated that GBJW had no significant effect on victim blaming.To investigate the existence of a regulatory model,Study 2(N = 456)manipulated GBJW and interpersonal interdependence to investigate the moderating effect of interpersonal interdependence on the process by which GBJW influences victim blaming.The results showed that GBJW significantly increase victim blaming;however,interpersonal interdependence markedly decrease the victim blaming.Especially interpersonal interdependence alleviated the victim blaming caused by GBJW:In the low interpersonal interdependence groups,GBJW can significantly affect victim blaming;however in the high interpersonal interdependence groups,the influence of GBJW on victim blaming is not significant.This study discussed the boundary conditions associated with the effect of GBJW on victim blaming at the interpersonal level and finds that interpersonal interdependence can be a protective factor in this context.Therefore,increase interpersonal interdependence could be viewed as a positive factor that can reduce intergroup prejudice.