Subordinates endorsing self-demeaning ideologies reduces the coercive force elites need.

Evidence

Everything else being equal, we postulate that the greater the degree to which dominants can induce subordinates to endorse self-demeaning ideologies such as anti- Black racism, the less physi-cal force or threat of force (i.e., terror) will be necessary in order to keep the hierarchical group relationships in place. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 3223

Categorization

• XREF: The trade-off between ideological legitimation and brute coercion echoes classic analyses of hegemony—and connects to the ADDENDUM ‘On Sacrifice’ article’s theme of ideological vs physical control in stratified societies.
• CANDY: A clean elevator line: an ideology a subordinate believes of himself does more policing than any army could.