Travis thinks that Roscoe is a terrible person. So when Travis finds out that Roscoe's business failed and that Roscoe's wife left him, Travis's reaction is consistent with the just world hypothesis. He therefore thinks to himself,
A) "Roscoe got what he deserved!"
B) "Even Roscoe did not deserve that!"
C) "Roscoe sure had bad luck!"
D) "If it happened to Roscoe, it could happen to anyone!"

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The just world hypothesis suggests that people tend to believe that the world is fundamentally fair, such that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. Travis's belief that Roscoe is a terrible person leads him to think that it is fair that Roscoe's business failed and his wife left him. This is consistent with choice A, which reflects the belief that Roscoe got what he deserved.

Travis Thinks That Roscoe Is a Terrible Person