A legitimizing myth’s political impact depends on four measurable properties.

Evidence

The potency of an LM refers to the degree to which that LM will help promote, maintain, or overthrow a given group-based hierarchy. The degree to which an LM is potent is a function of at least four factors: (a) consensuality, (b) embeddedness, (c) certainty, and what we shall call (d) mediational strength. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 3221

Categorization

• DEFINE: Sets up the four-part framework for measuring legitimizing myth potency—consensuality, embeddedness, certainty, mediational strength.