公平世界假定是相信人獲得所應得的、並應得所得到的,這是由梅爾文·勒納(英语:Melvin J. Lerner)所創的理論[19]。歸咎於個性因素而非不可改變或控制的環境因素,滿足了我們需要相信世界是公平且對自身生命有掌控的需求。我們積極將世界看作公正的是因為這會降低感知到的威脅[20][21]、提供一種安全感、有助於在困難和不安的情況中找到意義、並使我們在心理層次上受益[22]。不幸的是,公平世界假定也會導致人們出現指責貶低悲劇或事故受害者的傾向,諸如強姦受害者[23][24]、家庭暴力受害者[25],好安撫自己不會遭受到這樣的事件。人們甚至會怪罪於受害人「前世」的過錯來合理化這些糟糕的結果[26][页码请求]。
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^Godwin, Maurice. Victim target networks as solvability factors in serial murder. Social behavioral and personality. 1998, 26 (1): 75–84. doi:10.2224/sbp.1998.26.1.75.