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

Forthcoming in Current Directions in Psychological Science

17 Pages Posted: 9 Oct 2017

See all articles by Chuma Owuamalam

Chuma Owuamalam

University of Nottingham

Mark Rubin

Durham University

Russell Spears

Cardiff University - School of Psychology

Date Written: October 8, 2017

Abstract

System justification theory (SJT; Jost & Banaji, 1994) 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) due to a passive reflection of social reality, (b) as a form of ingroup bias (at the superordinate level), and (c) in the hope that ingroup advancement is possible in the future within the prevailing system. It is concluded that SIMSA provides a more comprehensive and theoretically-consistent explanation of system justification than SJT.

Keywords: social identity theory, system justification, SIMSA, legitimacy and stability

Suggested Citation

Owuamalam, Chuma and Rubin, Mark and Spears, Russell, Addressing Evidential and Theoretical Inconsistencies in System Justification Theory with a Social Identity Model of System Attitudes (October 8, 2017). Forthcoming in Current Directions in Psychological Science , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3049435

Chuma Owuamalam (Contact Author)

University of Nottingham ( email )

Jalan Broga
Semenyih, 43500
Malaysia

Mark Rubin

Durham University ( email )

Old Elvet
Mill Hill Lane
Durham, Durham DH1 3HP
United Kingdom

Russell Spears

Cardiff University - School of Psychology ( email )

Cardiff CF10 3AT
United Kingdom
+44 29 2087 0081 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.cf.ac.uk/psych/home/spearsr/

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