Competitive consumption substitutes for class conflict rather than triggering it

Evidence

These propositions are conservative in their implications. The psychological roots of this conservatism must be explored elsewhere, as must the many exceptions which may be observed when the fabric of a social order is so torn that the leaders, the rich and powerful, are seen as illegitimate—and hence “appropriately” interpreted as exploiters of the poor. I maintain, however, that these propositions hold generally for the American culture over most of its history—and also, that the propositions hold for most of the world most of the time. This is so even though they fly in the face of much social theory—theory often generalized from more specialized studies of radicalism and revolution. Incidentally, one must observe that it is as important to explain why revolutions and radical social movements do not happen as it is to explain why they do. The more I observed the psychological and physical drain placed upon my sample by the pressures to consume—and therefore to scratch in the corners of the economy for extra income—the more it appeared that competitive consumption was not a stimulus to class conflict, as might have been expected, but was a substitute for or a sublimation of it. Thus we would say: 5. The more emphasis a society places upon consumption—through advertising, development of new products, and easy installment buying—the more will social dissatisfaction be channeled into intra-class consumption rivalry instead of inter-class resentment and conflict. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2268

Categorization

• XREF: This is a direct empirical statement of the system-justification thesis the whole Jost/Sidanius volume defends — useful contrast for the reader’s strategic-essentialism account of why the dominated fail to revolt. — connects to: Household economizing functions as a competitive game, not mere necessity — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1240; Perceived competition matters more than objective competition; Mass culture’s technical rationality masks class domination as consumer demand. — Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment, 94 (+4 more)
• QUESTION: The claim that mass legitimacy holds ‘most of the world most of the time’ yet concedes exceptions when elites are seen as illegitimate is precisely the fault line the reader must trace for when strategic/ironic identity politics can or cannot bind.

Broader Connections

• Mass culture’s technical rationality masks class domination as consumer demand. #exemplifies (0.80) — Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment, 94
• Class struggle offers a viewpoint immune to systemic self-regulation’s allure #contradicts (0.80) — Jean-François Lyotard, The Postmodern Condition, 153
• Household economizing functions as a competitive game, not mere necessity #qualifies (0.75) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1240
• Seeking positive distinctiveness through competition generates conflict over scarce resources #contradicts (0.72) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2745
• Perceived competition matters more than objective competition #expands (0.70)