Chapter 10 - The Future

Summary

Chapter 10 discusses different types of scientific studies that need to be done to fully get a grip on the science of the fair process effect and its potentially alleviating effects on various developing instances of societal discontent. This includes field experiments and studies examining the important role of trust and issues such as perceived legitimacy, self-esteem, and personal and informational uncertainty. We also need to understand the possible downsides of the fair process effect better, for example, that sometimes people use unfair procedures to stop learning from their mistakes. The chapter further notes important normative implications about the fair process effect and that we should be aware that the effect can be used to justify the current status quo and legitimize power structures in our societies. The chapter concludes by giving directions for the development of practical interventions that may be used on the basis of this book to counter intensified distrust, heightened polarization, and strong beliefs in unfounded conspiracy theories. Ultimately, using insights on the fair process effect conveyed in this book may lead us to become better and more sociable beings, which in the end may increase the chances of us living in a better world.