Belief in zero-sum competition is an ideology that maintains hierarchy for dominant groups

Evidence

Social Dominance Theory suggests that in most societies, socially constructed groups are hierarchically organized so that certain groups receive a disproportionate percentage of positive outcomes (e.g., money, power). To maintain these hierarchies, it is argued, ideologies are developed that sustain the stability of the system. For dominant group members, these ideologies include beliefs about the legitimacy of their position in society and beliefs about inherent zero-sum competition among groups (i.e., that for dominants to prosper, others must suffer and, conversely, that if other groups prosper, it is necessarily at the expense of the dominant group). A belief in group conflict and competition thus serves to maintain the group dominance and inequality in society. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1486

Categorization

• SEED: Angles on how ‘they’re taking our jobs’ zero-sum framing functions as hierarchy-maintenance ideology rather than neutral perception.
• ADDENDUM: Parallel to the ‘Complaints About Immodesty Go Way Back’ piece: both concern ideological justifications for social stratification.
• XREF: connects to: Most people treat power as a zero-sum contest between groups. — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 224; The ideology of scientific progress legitimated class hierarchy rather than lifting the poor — Carolyn Merchant, The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology,…, 712