System Justification and Perceptions of Group-Based Discrimination: Investigating the Temporal Order of the Ideologically Motivated Minimization (or Exaggeration) of Discrimination Across Low- and High-Status Groups

Abstract

<jats:p> Believing that social systems are fair confers palliative benefits via different mechanisms. Although the minimization of group-based discrimination plays a central role in this process, the direction of this association is contested. We address this debate by using eight waves of nationally representative longitudinal panel data to model the temporal ordering of system justification (SJ) and perceptions of group-based discrimination across ethnic minorities ( n = 7,159) and Whites ( n = 18,140). Consistent with SJ theory and the original status-legitimacy hypothesis, system-justifying beliefs precede (and reduce) perceptions of group-based discrimination among minorities, whereas the corresponding association is positive and bidirectional for members of the ethnic majority group. These results are the first to demonstrate important asymmetries in both the direction and temporal ordering of SJ and perceptions of group-based discrimination across ethnic minority and majority populations. </jats:p>

System Justification or Social Dominance? A Multilevel Test of the Ideological Motivators of Perceived Discrimination

“…Similar patterns have been found among sexual minorities in the United States (Suppes et al, 2019) and Chile (Bahamondes et al, 2020). Moreover, a recent longitudinal study found that system-justifying beliefs decrease perceptions of discrimination among minorities (but not vice versa; see Bahamondes et al, 2021).…”

“…System-justifying beliefs also significantly increase perceptions of reverse discrimination among Whites (Major, Gramzow, et al, 2002; Wellman et al, 2016). More recently, Bahamondes et al (2021) showed that system justification increased perceptions of discrimination among ethnic majority group members. But perhaps more interestingly, perceptions of discrimination also increased system justification—a bidirectional association that may reflect a compensatory mechanism akin to in-group identification among the disadvantaged (see Sengupta et al, 2019).…”

“…Both theories concur that complacency toward the hierarchical status quo implies (at least tacitly) the acceptance of group-based asymmetries in the (depressed or magnified) social value and prestige of one’s social group (Major, Quinton, & McCoy, 2002; Ridgeway, 2001). Accordingly, Major, Gramzow, and colleagues’ (2002) status legitimacy hypothesis predicts that system-justifying beliefs lead to the minimization and denial of discrimination among the disadvantaged but should foster a sensitivity to signs of “reverse discrimination” among the advantaged (Bahamondes et al, 2021; Thomsen et al, 2010).…”

When women support the status quo: Gender moderates the relationship between openness to experience and system-justifying beliefs

“…On the other hand, political attitudes appear to develop later in life (see Jennings & Niemi, 1981). More pertinent to the current study, some argue that perceived discrimination precedes system justification (as our results suggest; e.g., Suppes et al, 2019), while others argue that system justification fosters perceptions of discrimination (e.g., Bahamondes et al, 2020;McCoy & Major, 2007). Additional research is needed to examine the causal direction between perceived discrimination and system justification among women (vs. men) who have a chronic need for epistemic certainty.…”

“…Thus, epistemic needs may be particularly strong predictors of system justification among women. However, as justifying the system still conflicts with women’s group and self-interests, unlike for advantaged individuals, reducing perceptions of discrimination will not fully equalize control for women and thus they will still show lower system justification overall compared to men (Bahamondes et al, 2020; Jost et al, 2010).…”