justice and altruism Flashcards
what is the definition of justice
people treat each other as they are entitled to be treated according to the law or specific moral rules
what are the types of justice
distributive = privileges, duties and goods distributed in line with people’s merits or the best interest of society
procedural = are the procedures that allocate resources and resolve disputes fair
what are the functions of justice
individual: improves wellbeing
collective: society functions better
what are the three principles of justice (Deutsch)
1) equity principle: you get what you give
2) equality principle: you all get the same
3) need principle: you get what you need
what is the social exchange theory
in social relations, people seek to maximise own benefits and minimise their costs
comparison level = expectation that benefits outweigh costs of relationships
investment in relationship can prevent people leaving under-rewarding relationships
what is the equity theory (Adams)
people compare net benefits they’re receiving with benefits their partners receive
people experience distress if under or over benefitting
what is the just world theory
people have a deep seated need to see the world as fair and just
children learn that certain behaviours are rewarded while others are punished, so begins to think ‘if I follow moral rules, life will treat me fairly’
through childhood development:
pleasure principle -> reality principle
pursuing immediate gratification -> delay gratification to avoid punishment
this brings order to chaos (distressing to think that bad things can happen to anyone)
what are the downsides of just world theory
charity appeals may backfire - people may feel like they cannot change anything, so they deny the injustice ir derogate the victims
to combat this, charities starting to focus more on individual sponsorships (e.g., adopt animal)
rape myth: downplay/justify sexual violence by blaming victims
is the just world view good or bad?
- improves world being
- but can increase negative attitudes towards some of the most vulnerable groups in society
what is the system justification theory
people have a motivation to view the social and political systems under which they life as being fair and just, even if they are personally disadvantaged within those systems
what is the principle and ideology of meritocracy
principle: success should be based on merit
ideology: society is currently set up in such a way that success is entirely dependent on merit (e.g., those who are at the top deserve to be at the top)
what is the group value model
states that people care about injustice not only because of the outcomes they expect to receive, but because it matters to their social identity
being treated fairly signals that I have high status in groups I care about
fair treatment -> more investment in group
what is the fair process effect
what is altruism
action that is performed to benefit a person without benefitting the self
can be done at expense of the self
part of prosocial beavhiour
what is bystander intervention
act of helping someone in danger or distress by people who are not its cause
