“In sync with the system”: System-justifying beliefs foster public cooperation during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a global challenge that requires not only governmental interventions but also effective public cooperation to promote collective well-being. Drawing on system justification theory, this research examines whether and how system-justifying beliefs foster public cooperation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data collected in China between 2021 and 2022, during a period of extensive government-led public health measures to contain COVID-19, two studies employing correlational and experimental designs were conducted. The findings indicate that (a) system-justifying beliefs are positively associated with public cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (b) this association is mediated by a sense of social belonging. These findings extend system justification theory by showing that system-justifying beliefs not only serve intrapersonal palliative functions but also foster system-sanctioned public cooperation during a large-scale public health crisis by enhancing social belongingness.