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When saying the world is just backfires: elites' expression of the belief in a just world, perceived immorality, moral outrage and punishment wishes

Objectif

Saying that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get, can be considered as a moralizing discourse. Past research has shown that this “just world” discourse is well regarded when conveyed by ordinary citizens. The main goal of this project, however, is to show that it can backfire against those who enact it. Specifically, this programme intends to show that when financial/political elites resort to a “just world” discourse, it may lead to punishment wishes against those elites, including the use of violence. Indeed, nowadays the financial elite is stereotypically associated with white-collar crime, the consequences of which affect millions of people worldwide; and the political elite is perceived as their accomplice. It is thus hypothesized that when members of the elites, as well-intended and innocent they may be, say that people get what they deserve, they will be perceived as adding insult to injury. Compared to elite members who say that the world is unjust for people, those who say that the world is just will thus be perceived as more immoral; as a consequence, individuals will feel more moral outrage towards them and will wish them higher punishment in various domains (e.g. legal, physical, social). This is a very important issue - after the 2008 financial crisis, various European countries introduced harsh austerity measures. One strategy that political and financial elites used to legitimize these measures was to repeatedly accuse these countries, basically Southern European ones, of having lived beyond their means at the expense of the industrious Northern European. Implicit in this discourse was a collective “just world” one – those measures, as hard as they could be, were deserved. This discourse has contributed to a Northern-Southern Europe divide. This research, to be conducted by experts on justice, morality and emotions, can inform the elites about the political and personal dangers of that moralizing discourse.

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Mots‑clés

Programme(s)

Thème(s)

Régime de financement

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Appel à propositions

(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) H2020-MSCA-IF-2017

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Coordinateur

UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DE MADRID
Contribution nette de l'UE
€ 158 121,60
Adresse
CALLE EINSTEIN 3 CIUDAD UNIV CANTOBLANCO RECTORADO
28049 Madrid
Espagne
Région
Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid
Type d’activité
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Liens
Coût total
€ 158 121,60