System-justification motives can override even the defense of one’s own group interests.

Evidence

We argue that justification of the status quo frequently appears to outweigh the individual’s defense of group interests. In cases such as these, negative stereotyping of the in-group seems to serve the function of justifying an unequal state of affairs, even at the expense of personal and group interest (cf. Sidanius & Pratto, 1993). For this reason and others, we postulate a third system-justifying function for the stereotype which is consistent with the idea of false consciousness and is supported by theory and data from experimental social psychology. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2905

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: System justification can outweigh both ego- and group-interest defense. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 2905