Thanks for sharing this, Jason.

For those who are interested, “Systems Justification” theory has been around for about 15 years. It attempts to address the question: Why do some people seem to buy into ideologies and leaders that hurt their interests? The answer, according to systems justification is that people rationalize the status quo for a host of “cognitive dissonance reduction” type reasons. Perhaps it legitimizes their place or enhances their locus of control or makes them feel secure. I find the angle and arguments generally valuable.

It is an approach that has obvious overlap with JUstification Systems Theory. The problem or issue I have with it is the concern I have with the general field of social psychology: What is systems justification relative to cognitive dissonance, self-serving biases, locus of control, and on and on? Without a meta-psychological backdrop, there are all these “part theories” that take a phenomena and then engage in research on it and then label/operationalize it and we have this named idea that sort of relates to other ideas, but no real coherent frame for how all the parts go together.

A secondary problem with Systems Justification theory is that it has a significant academic liberal bias built into it. (e.g., those in lower/marginalized classes who support conservative politics are just rationalizing due to biases…that implicit “justification” is a dynamic that creates problematic interpretations).

The UT argument is that social psychology (i.e., the science of how humans influence one another) should be framed in terms of J-I-I Dynamics, that is Justification (based on JUST), Investment (based on BIT) and Influence (based on the Influence Matrix). If we approach social psychological phenomena from a J-I-I Dynamic perspective, we see an emergent hierarchy of explanation that account for virtually all of the mid-level social psych “empirical research grounded paradigm theories” like systems justification.

Best,
G

From: tree of knowledge system discussion <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of nysa71
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2018 8:25 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Speculations on the Evolutionary Origins of System Justification

Hi ToKers,

I just saw this 2018 journal article last night which should be quite relevant to the ToK:

Speculations on the Evolutionary Origins of System Justification<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__journals.sagepub.com_doi_pdf_10.1177_1474704918765342&d=DwMCaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=2TlwzmaB5B00yr_aYCbnWaAAr72B9oZNrywqWopARx0&s=PNZr2I-jgO-aRj7NR75GmmwDlhVSbu7sdFOqhEAcvqY&e=>

ABSTRACT

For centuries, philosophers and social theorists have wondered why people submit voluntarily to tyrannical leaders and oppressive regimes. In this article, we speculate on the evolutionary origins of system justification, that is, the ways in which people are motivated (often nonconsciously) to defend and justify existing social, economic, and political systems. After briefly recounting the logic of system justification theory and some of the most pertinent empirical evidence, we consider parallels between the social behaviors of humans and other animals concerning the acceptance versus rejection of hierarchy and dominance. Next, we summarize research in human neuroscience suggesting that specific brain regions, such as the amygdala and the anterior cingulate cortex, may be linked to individual differences in ideological preferences concerning (in)equality and social stability as well as the successful navigation of complex, hierarchical social systems. Finally, we consider some of the implications of a system justification perspective for the study of evolutionary psychology, political behavior, and social change.
~ Jason Bessey
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