Low-status groups’ lower social dominance orientation means ideology does not block their politicization

Evidence

Group members’ social dominance orientation (Sidanius & Pratto, 1999) may be another variable the influence of which can systematically be examined in light of our model of politicized collective identity. We have already indicated that legitimizing myths or ideologies could obstruct, or at least inhibit, the politicizing process. Specifically, hierarchy-enhancing myths can undermine the awareness of shared grievances, foster internal attributions as opposed to external or adversarial attributions, or discourage group members from transforming the in-group/out-group confrontation into a more comprehensive power struggle involving society at large. Research suggests that people high on social dominance orientation are more likely to endorse (hierarchyenhancing) legitimizing myths than people low on social dominance orientation so that social dominance orientation could play an inhibitory role in the politicizing process. However, research also demonstrates that members of low-status groups are generally lower on social dominance orientation than members of high-status groups (Sidanius & Pratto, 1999). At the same time, given their relatively disadvantaged social position, members of low-status groups typically have more reason to politicize than members of high-status groups. Taken together, it follows that social dominance orientation and legitimizing myths should not be insurmountable obstacles to a politicized collective identity for those who need it most. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4440

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines hierarchy-enhancing legitimizing myths as mechanisms that inhibit politicization by fostering internal attributions and undermining shared grievance awareness.
• XREF: connects to: Quiescent subordinate groups show less ethnocentrism until questioning their low-status identity reignites resource conflict. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 2698; Low-status individuals seek local status in splinter groups while still competing globally — W. David Marx, Status and Culture: How Our Desire for…, 305