Nine Theses for a Theory of System Justification

Abstract For decades, social scientists assumed that ideological distinctions between left and right were devoid of significance for the vast majority of citizens. However, “end-of-ideology” pronouncements are finally losing their grip on social, personality, and political psychology. There is much evidence that conservative-rightist ideology is motivated by authoritarianism, social dominance, and system justification, whereas progressive-leftist ideology is motivated by more egalitarian and rebellious concerns that challenge the status quo. We trace the historical development of system justification theory, which offers a framework for understanding why so many people believe—even when confronted with disconfirming evidence—that existing social, economic, and political systems are good, fair, legitimate, desirable, and right. We articulate nine major theses derived from this framework and discuss how theory builds on and extends the work of philosophers, historians, sociologists, psychologists, and political scientists. By positing that system justification is a motivated, goal-directed process for most of the people at least some of the time, we offer a distinctive theoretical perspective that helps to explain, among other things, the perceived legitimacy and stability of social systems and hierarchical arrangements, as well as the relative rarity of protest and rebellion.