The just-world fallacy is the cognitive bias that assumes that a person's actions will lead to morally fair and fitting consequences. This belief holds that good deeds will be rewarded and bad deeds will be punished, creating a mindset where individuals think the world is just and balanced. It often results in victim-blaming, where people rationalize suffering by claiming that victims deserve their fate, thus adhering to the notion of cosmic justice or karma.
One well-known example of the just-world fallacy is the response to natural disasters. When a devastating event occurs, some people may argue that the victims must have done something to deserve such a tragedy, reflecting this cognitive bias.
To overcome the just-world fallacy, it is important to acknowledge that the world is not always just and to actively challenge the inclination to blame victims for their circumstances. Practicing empathy and understanding the complexities of social issues can help mitigate this bias.