Abstract
Social Dominance Orientation, one of the most popular individual differences measures in the study of generalized prejudice,
can be understood as having two components: Opposition to Equality (OEQ) and support for Group-Based Dominance (GBD). We consider
these components in terms of system justification theory and social identity theory. We find that each component best explains
different kinds of political views, consistent with the theory that they arise from different motivations. OEQ reflects system
justification motives. It better predicts attitudes towards redistributive social policy, political conservatism, and a lack
of humanitarian compassion for the disadvantaged. GBD reflects social identity motives. It is more associated with hostility
toward outgroups and concerns about intergroup competition. GBD and OEQ have different personality and demographic correlates,
exhibit distinctive relations with explicit and implicit attitudinal preferences, and differentially predict a variety of
policy attitudes. Use of GBD and OEQ as separate constructs enriches the understanding of prejudice, policy attitudes, and
political ideology.
can be understood as having two components: Opposition to Equality (OEQ) and support for Group-Based Dominance (GBD). We consider
these components in terms of system justification theory and social identity theory. We find that each component best explains
different kinds of political views, consistent with the theory that they arise from different motivations. OEQ reflects system
justification motives. It better predicts attitudes towards redistributive social policy, political conservatism, and a lack
of humanitarian compassion for the disadvantaged. GBD reflects social identity motives. It is more associated with hostility
toward outgroups and concerns about intergroup competition. GBD and OEQ have different personality and demographic correlates,
exhibit distinctive relations with explicit and implicit attitudinal preferences, and differentially predict a variety of
policy attitudes. Use of GBD and OEQ as separate constructs enriches the understanding of prejudice, policy attitudes, and
political ideology.
- Content Type Journal Article
- DOI 10.1007/s11211-010-0112-5
- Authors
- Matthew B. Kugler, Department of Psychology, Lehigh University, 17 E Memorial Dr, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
- Joel Cooper, Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
- Brian A. Nosek, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia USA
- Journal Social Justice Research
- Online ISSN 1573-6725
- Print ISSN 0885-7466
- Journal Volume Volume 23
- Journal Issue Volume 23, Numbers 2-3