Abusing the Unemployed: an Invisible Injustice

Abstract

Abstract The study reported examined how young people respond to abuse directed at them purely because they are unemployed. Since young unemployed are known to blame themselves for their failure to gain a job, it was predicted they would not regard the abuse as unjust and would be unable to defend themselves adequately. This was found to be the case: young people sought to justify themselves by pleas of helplessness or totally failed to evolve any argument in self‐defence. Alternatively, the attacker's empathy was sought by offering to swap places. It is suggested that the unemployed can be taught coping strategies based upon a reconceptualization of the causes of unemployment and a re‐evaluation of the moral standing of those who offer abuse. Additional informationNotes on contributorsGlynis M Breakwell Dr. Glynis M. Breakwell is Lecturer in Social Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey