Ellard, JohnWright, Joanna2015-09-282015-11-202015-09-282015http://hdl.handle.net/11023/2527In recent years, the prominence of immoral, law-breaking antihero characters (Machiavellian or Mach-antiheroes) has increased in popular media. How can this trend be explained? It may be the case that, due to globalized exposure to real life injustice, some people experience an increase in anomie and thus prefer characters who can more realistically solve injustice. In two experiments, one correlational and one comparing groups exposed to antiheroes that varied in personal and global justification, this hypothesis was examined. Although evidence was not found to directly support the hypothesis, elements of just world beliefs, anomie, and personal morality were found to be related to Mach-antihero appeal. Results also support the idea that audiences do engage in moral evaluations of Mach-antiheroes. A full discussion of results, as well as implications, limitations, and future directions for research, appear as a conclusion. Key words: antihero, justice, belief in a just world, anomie, moralityengUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Psychology--Socialantiherojusticeanomiebelief in a just worldmoralitymaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/28174