Assessing Worry, Racism, and Belief in a Just World

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between worry, Bayesian racism, and belief in a just world in s sample of 195 white, conservative, Evangelical and Protestant Christians. Regression analyses indicated a curvilinear, but statistically nonsignificant, relationship between worry and belief in a just world. Individuals with an extreme level of worry did not believe the world was a just and fair place. A strong, linear relationship was evidenced between Bayesian racism and belief in a just world, indicating white, conservative, Evangelical and Protestant Christians were more likely to espouse the fairness of endorsing racial stereotypes. Implications from the study include the importance of addressing underlying characterizations of worry and racism among conservative, religious clients. This study is among the first to explore the motivations associated with endorsing racist stereotypes with respect to perceptions of a just world.