Stereotypes legitimize existing social hierarchy even against people’s own interests

Evidence

The opposite viewpoint is conceivable: Cultural stereotypes could instead reflect group-level sour grapes (with a bigot reasoning that the out-group may have high status, but they inherited it, lucked out, or cheated, so they do not deserve it, and they actually are stupid). However, we suggest that intergroup stereotypes turn in part on consciousness of power relations; stereotypes function to justify the status quo (Berger et al., 1980; Fiske, 1993a; Glick & Fiske, 2001b; Jost & Banaji, 1994; Jost, Burgess, & Mosso, 2001; Ridgeway & Berger, 1986). Envious stereotypes devolve on that high competence but low warmth lot who seem to be doing better than others. — Susan T. Fiske et al., A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype…, 43

Categorization

• DEEPTHINKING: The system-justification framing flips the intuitive ‘contempt as sour grapes’ model: prejudice here enforces the hierarchy it reacts to, so the envied group’s success is coded as deserved even as they are resented. Dense enough to dwell on.
• QUESTION: Fiske explicitly rebuts ‘sour grapes’ but also seems aware that bigot reasoning does happen. When does the entitlement rationalization win over correspondence bias in real stereotypes?
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Susan T. Fiske et al., A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype…, 43
• XREF: connects to: Logical categories mirror social hierarchy and division of labor, not solidarity — Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment, 43; System justification theory attributes stereotype endorsement to status-quo legitimization — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 140; Social role arrangement alone produces justifying stereotypes in both parties. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 2914 (+11 more)

Related

• System justification theory attributes stereotype endorsement to status-quo legitimization (similarity 0.85)
• Stereotypes justify existing social arrangements and preserve the status quo (similarity 0.85)
• Stereotypes do not sour-grape away envied outgroup competence but justify their high status. (similarity 0.85)
• Exposing people to group stereotypes increases their support for the status quo (similarity 0.85)
• People stereotype themselves and their own groups to justify existing social arrangements (similarity 0.84)
• People justify social hierarchy even when it harms their own group (similarity 0.84)
• Warm stereotypes of subordinate groups function to keep them placated and deferential (similarity 0.83)
• Positive stereotypes can justify subordination more effectively than negative ones (similarity 0.83)
• Stereotypes function to make existing social inequalities seem legitimate and natural (similarity 0.83)
• Social role arrangement alone produces justifying stereotypes in both parties. (similarity 0.82)
• Perceived high status and power directly produce perceived outgroup competence. (similarity 0.82)
• Subordinates’ positive self-stereotypes can reinforce the status quo. (similarity 0.82)
• Stereotypes function as justification for inequality more than as accurate reflection of groups (similarity 0.82)
• Negative overall stereotypes block group access to desirable social roles. (similarity 0.81)
• Disadvantaged groups adopt negative self-stereotypes that preserve existing social arrangements (similarity 0.81)

Broader Connections

• Stereotypes justify existing social arrangements and preserve the status quo #corroborates (0.90) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1415
• Stereotypes function as justification for inequality more than as accurate reflection of groups #corroborates (0.90) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1366
• Stereotypes function to make existing social inequalities seem legitimate and natural #corroborates (0.90) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2909
• People stereotype themselves and their own groups to justify existing social arrangements #expands (0.80) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2960
• People justify social hierarchy even when it harms their own group #expands (0.80) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 960
• Stereotypes elicit confirming behavior and perpetuate the status quo #expands (0.75) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1374
• Exposing people to group stereotypes increases their support for the status quo #expands (0.75) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1407
• Legitimized status hierarchies suppress ethnocentrism at the cost of subordinate self-esteem #corroborates (0.75)
• Stereotypes are self-fulfilling prophecies that perpetuate the status quo endogenously #expands (0.75) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1374
• Negative overall stereotypes block group access to desirable social roles. #qualifies (0.70) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 213