Belief in karma may shape social behavior
Karma is a cognitively distinctive, culturally transmitted belief that moral actions generate just rewards and punishments, beyond the bounds of human justice and the influence of gods, which has unique associations with psychological phenomena.
Karmic explanations emphasize internal attributions, enhance both pride and satisfaction for good experiences, and encourage blaming of others and legitimization of their misfortune.
Thinking about karma can encourage prosociality towards strangers, decrease revenge, and encourage more sustainable consumption.
Belief in the law of karma can also be used to legitimize social inequalities and reduce provision of assistance to victims perceived as undeserving.
https://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613(25)00252-9
