社会不平等如何影响低地位者的系统合理信念

Exploring the effect of social inequality on system-justifying beliefs of the disadvantaged

社会不平等可能减弱或增强低地位者的系统合理信念,两种关系分别由自利动机与系统合理化动机驱动。同时,两种关系还依赖于低地位者对社会不平等的认知,即现实威胁与象征威胁。凸显不平等在个体或群体水平的现实威胁激活其自利动机,进而使其反对系统现状(即减弱路径);凸显不平等在系统水平的象征威胁激活其系统合理化动机,进而使其维护系统现状(即增强路径)。这一双路径模型为解释当前理论争议提供了一种整合框架,需要未来研究进一步检验和发展。

Previous research on the relationship between social inequality and the system-justifying beliefs of disadvantaged individuals remains inconclusive.On the one hand,self-interest-oriented theories(e.g.,social identity theory) argue that inequality decreases the system-justifying beliefs of the disadvantaged,given that inequality conflicts with their self-interest.System justification theory,on the other hand,predicts that when inequality in the system is made especially salient,then system justification motivation is activated(or increased);thus,individuals(including the disadvantaged) would be more likely to defend and support the unequal status quo.In this article,we intend to advance the debate by proposing a dual-process model.Specifically,when the realistic threat of inequality at the individual or group level is salient,it is more likely to activate the self-interested motivation of the disadvantaged(and thus inhibit their system justification motivation),and in turn weaken their system-justifying beliefs.However,when the symbolic threat of inequality at the system level is salient,it is more likely to activate their system justification motivation(and thus inhibit their self-interested motivation),thereby enhancing their system-justifying beliefs.Our dualprocess model offers a new approach to bridging the research gap,and future research is needed to test and develop this model.