Maintaining the Status Quo and Social Inequalities: Is Stereotype Endorsement Related to Support for System Justification?

According to the system justification theory (SJT), stereotypes can be conceptualized as tools of system justification. Because relatively few studies have directly examined this assumption, we conducted two studies in which the relationships between stereotype endorsement of various disadvantaged groups (i.e. women, Arabs, the poor and Gypsies) and system justification ideologies were explored (N = 540). Interestingly, results revealed that stereotype endorsement and system justification ideologies were not significantly related. Only negative stereotypes and prejudices were related to support for the system, not positive stereotypes. Finally, results were not consistent with the complementary hypothesis. Using various measures, whatever their level of positive stereotype endorsement, those who hold negative attitudes were also those who justified the system. Current Research in Social Psychology (Vol. 13, No. 9) (De Oliveira & Dambrun)