Seeking positive distinctiveness through competition generates conflict over scarce resources

Evidence

The group members may seek positive distinctiveness through direct competition with the out-group. They may try to reverse the relative positions of the in-group and the outgroup on salient dimensions. To the degree that this may involve comparisons related to the social structure, it implies changes in the groups’ objective social locations. We can hypothesize, therefore, following RCT, that this strategy will generate conflict and antagonism between subordinate and dominant groups insofar as it focuses on the distribution of scarce resources. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2745

Categorization

• XREF: Links realistic conflict theory’s resource-scarcity mechanism to social identity theory’s positive distinctiveness motive — the two traditions the book has been reconciling. — connects to: Competitive consumption substitutes for class conflict rather than triggering it — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 2268; Competitive invasive species literally embody market ideology — Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom,…, 1398; Extreme prolonged competition creates hyper-specialized economic niches within a region — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update: Celebrity, Publicity,…, 114 (+2 more)