Subordinates internalize negative stereotypes that make them self-fulfill those stereotypes

Evidence

Self-debilitation occurs when subordinates show higher levels of self-destructive behaviors than dominants. These self-debilitating and self-destructive behaviors are often consistent with, but not exclusive to the negative stereotypes associated with subordinate groups. These lower expectations and stereotypes are consensually shared across the social status hierarchy and exist within the minds of both dominants and subordinates alike. From a social dominance perspective, the negative stereotypes of subordinates are important, not only because of the discriminatory behavior they induce among dominants, but perhaps even more importantly, because they also serve as behavioral scripts or schemas for subordinates. This is to say that the negative stereotypes subordinates carry in their heads about themselves induce them to behave in ways that reinforce these stereotypes. Stereotypes thus become self-fulfilling prophecies (Merton, 1972). — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 3210

Categorization

• XREF: Self-fulfilling prophecy mechanism echoes the stereotype-threat literature (Steele & Aronson) and connects to the reader’s memory of similar ideas in the Milgrom reputation work on how beliefs shape behavior. — connects to: Oppression alienates the subordinate into viewing herself through the master’s eyes — Sarah Bakewell, At the Existentialist Café: Freedom,…, 674
• DEFINE: Introduces and defines ‘self-debilitation’ as a formal SD-theory term.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 3210