System justification theory at 25: Evaluating a paradigm shift in psychology and looking towards the future

Abstract

Since first being proposed 25 years ago, system justification theory has become a paradigm‐shifting framework for understanding intergroup relations and political psychology. Based on the thesis that people are motivated to defend and bolster the societal status quo, system justification theory helps to explain varied phenomena, including resistance to change, outgroup favouritism, and other instances of false consciousness. This paper summarizes four tenets of the theory including the following: (1) antecedents to system justification, (2) palliative effects of system justification, (3) status‐based asymmetries in conflict between justification motives, and (4) societal consequences of system justification. Throughout our review, we highlight how system justification theory helps to explain why disadvantaged groups might sometimes support the status quo, emphasizing research conducted outside the United States when possible. We conclude by calling on future research to (1) further utilize nationally representative and multi‐level data, (2) investigate the relational motives behind system justification, (3) address social change from a system justification perspective, and (4) extend system justification theory's focus beyond WEIRD societies.

Who Is for (or Against) the National Flag? Ideological and Identity‐Based Motivators of Attitudes

“…To these ends, Feygina, Jost, and Goldsmith () showed that “system‐sanctioned change” could motivate those who are high on system justification to support efforts to combat climate change. Although it may be rare for conservative social groups to promote progressive change, and thus questionable as to how often this type of scenario may occur in real‐world settings (see Osborne, Sengupta, & Sibley, ), the findings nevertheless point to social identity as a strong motivating factor in people's attitudes.…”

On the Psychological Function of Nationalistic “Whitelash”

“…A conservative interpretation of our findings is that nationalism buffers white New Zealanders against feelings that their ethnic group is deprived. This in itself represents a novel contribution to the literature on the psychological function of political ideologies, adding to the cultural diversity of this literature (see Osborne, Sengupta, & Sibley, ). However, a broader interpretation is that the link between GRD and nationalism results from a general psychological process in which members of societally dominant groups buffer their subjective well‐being against perceived deprivation by clinging to beliefs about national superiority.…”

The future of system justification theory

“…(The publisher tells us that the original article is the second most highly cited one in the journal's history, which is humbling and gratifying.) Two of the commentariesby Friesen, Laurin, Shepard, Gaucher, and Kay (2019) and Osborne, Sengupta, and Sibley (2019) are very favourable in their evaluation of the present state of theory and research on system justification processes. Both articles provide key insights about research in this area and suggest future directions that complement those mentioned in Jost's (2019) target article.…”

“…For instance, they review studies in which the triggering of motivated system defensiveness leads people to treat aspects of the societal status quo ('what is') as what is normatively right ('what ought to be')regardless of whether the status quo is congenial to selfand group-interest. Osborne et al (2019) discuss several ways in which system justification theory went beyond dominant paradigms in social psychology. They also point out that social systems are justified at multiple levels of analysis and suggest several ways in which the theory can contribute to an understanding of non-Western societies.…”

“…Yes, system justification is negatively associated with moral outrage directed at the societal status quo and the desire to participate in system-challenging collective action (Becker & Wright, 2011;Jost et al, 2012;Osborne, Jost, Becker, Badaan, & Sibley, 2019;Wakslak, Jost, Tyler, & Chen, 2007). At the same time, system justification is positively associated with backlash (and anger) against system-challenging forms of protest and the desire to participate in system-supporting protest on behalf of the status quo (Osborne et al, 2019). There is no inconsistency here as long as one distinguishes clearly between systemchallenging and system-supporting forms of collective action, which the Social Identity Model of Collective Action (SIMCA) does not, but our integrative model does (see Jost, Becker, Osborne, & Badaan, 2017) 3.…”