Theory of Belief in a Just World and Legal Socialization

Perspectives in studies on children and adolescents

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1984-7289.2023.1.43012

Keywords:

Legal Socialization, Belief in a Just World, Legitimacy, Authority, Children and Adolescents

Abstract

In this article, we provide an overview of Just World Theory and legal socialization research and how these explain how youth legitimize authorities and comply with rules based on justice. The article analyzes the literature in three parts: demonstrating legal socialization as a valuable research fi eld to study how people internalize norms and social rules, develop trust in authorities, and shape legal attitudes and behaviors; presenting just world theory as a way to identify the mechanisms that shape justice perceptions; discussing how perceptions of justice can infl uence the relationships between children and authorities and shape attitudes towards the law. Based on the evidence presented, we conclude that a higher belief in justice can increase the level of cooperation with authorities because individuals are motivated by the expectations of just treatment and just rewards.

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Author Biographies

Kendra J. Thomas, Hope College (HC), Holland, MI, Estados Unidos.

Doutora em Psicologia Educacional com especialização em Psicologia do Desenvolvimento pela Ball State University, em Muncie, IN, EUA. Professora de Psicologia do Hope College (HC), em Holland, MI, Estados Unidos.

Aline Morais Mizutani Gomes, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Mestre em Psicologia Escolar pela Universidade de São Paulo (USP), em São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Pesquisadora do Núcleo de Estudos da Violência (NEV-USP). Professora de Psicologia da Universidade Paulista (Unip), em São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Herbert Rodrigues, Missouri State University (MSU), Springfield, MO, Estados Unidos.

Doutor em Sociologia pela Universidade de São Paulo (USP), em São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Professor de Sociologia da Missouri State University (MSU), em Springfield, MO, Estados Unidos.

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Published

2023-02-07

How to Cite

Thomas, K. J., Gomes, A. M. M., & Rodrigues, H. (2023). Theory of Belief in a Just World and Legal Socialization: Perspectives in studies on children and adolescents. Civitas: Journal of Social Sciences, 23(1), e43012. https://doi.org/10.15448/1984-7289.2023.1.43012