Lecture 5

System Justification Theory (SJT)

People are motivated to perceive existing systems as fair and legitimate, even when they cause inequality.

Low-status group support for inequality

SJT can lead disadvantaged individuals to defend the status quo, overriding their own interests.

Three motives driving system justification

Epistemic (reduce uncertainty), existential (reduce threat), and relational (maintain social harmony).

Factors increasing system justification in SJT

Perceived legitimacy and perceived threats to the system increase justification.

Main criticism of SJT

The same motives can drive both justification and rejection of the system, questioning what causes the differing outcomes.

Social Dominance Theory (SDT)

Societies are structured as group-based hierarchies where dominant groups have more power and resources.

Social Dominance Orientation (SDO)

An individual's preference for group-based hierarchy; high SDO indicates stronger support for inequality.

Legitimizing Myths (LMs)

Cultural beliefs that justify and maintain group hierarchies, such as racism or meritocracy.

Behavioral Asymmetry in SDT

Subordinate group members may unintentionally help maintain social hierarchies instead of resisting them.

Three forms of discrimination in SDT

Individual, institutional, and behavioral asymmetry discrimination.

Focus of SDT vs. SJT

SDT emphasizes dominance and group hierarchy; SJT emphasizes justification of the status quo.

Motivation for inequality in SDT and SJT

SDT is driven by a desire for dominance (SDO); SJT is driven by psychological needs like certainty and safety.

Individual Mobility in SIT

Dissociating from a low-status group when boundaries are perceived as permeable.

Tokenism in social mobility

When a few low-status individuals gain access to high-status groups, misleadingly suggesting equal opportunities.

Antecedents of collective action in SIT

Perceived injustice, group efficacy, and strong group identity.

Social Creativity in SIT

Reinterpreting a group's situation to maintain self-esteem without changing social status.

Examples of Social Creativity strategies

Redefining traits, making downward comparisons, or shifting comparison dimensions.

Social Competition

Acting collectively to improve the status of the ingroup.

Relative Deprivation (RD)

The disparity between what individuals possess and what they feel entitled to.

Group (fraternal) RD

Feeling deprived compared to other groups, which can lead to anger and potential collective action.

Anger and collective action according to Stuermer & Simon (2009)

Anger can provide short-term emotional release but not necessarily lead to long-term change.

Becker et al. (2011) findings on anger in activism

Angry actions can intensify anger and promote continued activism.

Actions stemming from anger and contempt

Anger leads to non-violent action, while contempt may lead to violent action.

Benefits of intergroup contact

Improves relationships and reduces prejudice between different groups.

Intergroup contact and collective action

Can undermine collective action by diminishing perceptions of injustice and making individual mobility seem more appealing.

Two main approaches to social change

Prejudice reduction and advocating for better treatment through disruption.

Self-focused vs. other-focused emotions

Guilt is self-focused, while sympathy is other-focused.

Four motives advantaged groups may have in response to inequality

Outgroup-focused (anger), ingroup-focused (guilt), personal (reputation concerns), and moral (value-based).

Moral motive in response to injustice

Acting based on principles like fairness and harm-avoidance, independent of group affiliation.