Addressing Evidential and Theoretical Inconsistencies in System-Justification Theory with a Social Identity Model of System Attitudes

Abstract

System-justification theory (SJT) proposes that people have an inherent motive to support societal systems, even at the expense of their personal and group interests. However, the evidence for this system-justification motive is mixed, and a close examination of the relevant propositions yields some important theoretical inconsistencies. To address this mixed evidence and theoretical inconsistency, we introduce a social identity model of system attitudes (SIMSA). SIMSA integrates a cluster of different social identity processes and proposes that system justification can occur among members of low-status groups (a) because of a passive reflection of social reality, (b) as a form of in-group bias (at the superordinate level), and (c) in the hope that in-group advancement is possible in the future within the prevailing system. We conclude that SIMSA provides a more comprehensive and theoretically consistent explanation of system justification than SJT.