Melvin J. Lerner
Encyclopedia
Melvin J. Lerner, Professor of Social Psychology
at the University of Waterloo
between 1970 and 1994 and now a visiting scholar at Florida Atlantic University
, has been called "a pioneer in the psychological study of justice". As a scientist he has also been associated with University of California, Berkeley, Washington University, St Louis, Universities of Utrecht and Leiden in the Netherlands, and other institutions.
Dr Lerner received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology
in 1957 at New York University, and a Post-doctoral in Clinical Psychology at Stanford University. Dr Lerner was awarded Distinguished Professor Emeritus at University of Waterloo in 1994, he has received the Max-Planck-Forschungspreis together with Prof Leo Montada in 1993, and the Quinquennial Award in 1986. In 2008 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Society for Justice Research. Dr Lerner is most recognized for the Just-world phenomenon
, published in "The Belief in a Just World: A Fundamental Delusion" (1980), and for being co-editor of the first volume devoted to the "Justice Motive" in 1981. He was also the founding editor of the journal Social Justice Research and the series of volumes "Critical Issues in Social Justice" published by Plenum Press.
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
at the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
between 1970 and 1994 and now a visiting scholar at Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic, is a public, coeducational, research university located in , United States. The university has six satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie, and in Fort...
, has been called "a pioneer in the psychological study of justice". As a scientist he has also been associated with University of California, Berkeley, Washington University, St Louis, Universities of Utrecht and Leiden in the Netherlands, and other institutions.
Dr Lerner received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
in 1957 at New York University, and a Post-doctoral in Clinical Psychology at Stanford University. Dr Lerner was awarded Distinguished Professor Emeritus at University of Waterloo in 1994, he has received the Max-Planck-Forschungspreis together with Prof Leo Montada in 1993, and the Quinquennial Award in 1986. In 2008 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Society for Justice Research. Dr Lerner is most recognized for the Just-world phenomenon
Just-world phenomenon
The just world hypothesis describes a cognitive bias in which people believe that the world they live in is one in which actions have appropriate and predictable consequences. This phenomenon has been widely studied by social psychologists since Melvin J. Lerner conducted seminal work on the belief...
, published in "The Belief in a Just World: A Fundamental Delusion" (1980), and for being co-editor of the first volume devoted to the "Justice Motive" in 1981. He was also the founding editor of the journal Social Justice Research and the series of volumes "Critical Issues in Social Justice" published by Plenum Press.
Further reading
- Lerner, M. & Simmons, C. H. (1966). Observer’s Reaction to the "Innocent Victim": Compassion or Rejection? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 4, v. 2.
- Lerner, Melvin J. The Belief in a Just World A Fundamental Delusion (Perspectives in Social Psychology) (1980)
- Lerner, Melvin J. & Lerner, Sally C. The Justice Motive in Social Behavior: Adapting to Times of Scarcity and Change, (New York: Plenum Press, 1981).
- Montada, Leo & Lerner, Melvin J. Responses to Victimization and Belief in a Just World (Critical Issues in Social Justice) (1998)