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The Experience of Injustice Social Psychological and Clinical Perspectives

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Abstract

Despite our universal social need for justice, the presence of injustice is ubiquitous between people, groups, and societies. How the injustice is perceived and interpreted will determine how the individual respondsto it. On a social level, the individual’s perception of the source of injustice may result in attempts to rescue or make restitution to the victim or, alternatively, in attempts to blame the victim. On an internal, emotional level, the experience of oneself or of others as the victims or perpetrators of injustice has emotional sequelae—including, at times, an overall sense of the self as an innocent or responsible victim or harmdoer. These self-perceptions will, in turn, alter the individual’s social behavior toward others who are themselves victims or harmdoers.

Justice is the first virtue of social institutions.

(Rawls, 1971, p. 3)

The first requisite of civilization...

(Freud, 1933, p. 42)

The uniting function in the individual man and in the social group...

(Plato, in Tillich, 1954, p. 55)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, 11530, USA

    Janice M. Steil

  2. Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, New York, 10021, USA

    Joyce Slochower

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  1. Janice M. Steil
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  2. Joyce Slochower
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, USA

    George Stricker Ph.D.

  2. C. W. Post Center, Long Island University, Greenvale, New York, USA

    Robert H. Keisner Ph.D.

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© 1985 Plenum Press, New York

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Steil, J.M., Slochower, J. (1985). The Experience of Injustice Social Psychological and Clinical Perspectives. In: Stricker, G., Keisner, R.H. (eds) From Research to Clinical Practice. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4820-7_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4820-7_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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