The DOI matches its Crossref record.
A Theory of System Justification
Abstract
Psychologist John Jost has spent decades researching poor people who vote for policies of inequality and women who think men deserve higher salaries. He argues that the persecuted often justify and defend the very social systems that oppress them because doing so serves a fundamental need for certainty, security, and social acceptance.
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In the citing paper
“One characteristic that can contribute to such behaviors is system justification.”
From How to study democratic backsliding (2024) · cites this paper as Jost, 2020
In the citing paper
“Those with high social-justification tendencies often rationalize an undemocratic erosion of the extant system.”
From How to study democratic backsliding (2024) · cites this paper as Jost, 2020
In the citing paper
“People defend the status quo even if it is unjust and exploitative due to a need for certainty, security, and social acceptance.”
From How to study democratic backsliding (2024) · cites this paper as Jost, 2020
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Items 301–308 of 308
Onuora-Oguno, A. C. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-35548-5_3
Cech, E. A., & Moss-Pech, C. (2026) · Socius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World · doi:10.1177/23780231261474205
Worldviews and public attitudes toward gene-edited foods in Japan
Yamaguchi, T., & 나일등 (2026) · Public Understanding of Science · doi:10.1177/09636625261479618
Alamsyah, A., & Yanti, M. (2026) · Journal of Asian Public Policy · doi:10.1080/17516234.2026.2727640
Latin America’s Persistent Disorder: Meritocracy Without Mobility
Cárdenas, J.-C., & Fergusson, L. (2025) · The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science · doi:10.1177/00027162261473377
Martín, A. M. L., García, V. A., & Prados, J. L. P. (2026) · Revista CENTRA de Ciencias Sociales · doi:10.54790/rccs.145
Collectivized Suffering Among Marginalized Group Members
Sullivan, D., Figueroa, G. M., Yee, E., Goad, A. N., Sedivy, L. P., & Schmitt, H. J. (2026) · Race and Social Problems · doi:10.1007/s12552-026-09518-9
КОМАРОВ, В. В. (2026) · Институт психологии Российской академии наук Социальная и экономическая психология · doi:10.38098/ipran.sep_2026_43_3_07
Metadata
- Authors
- JOST, J. T.
- Corresponding author
- JOST, JOHN T.
- ORCID
- JOST, JOHN T.
- Venue
- Harvard University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Harvard University Press
- Published
- 2020-07-14
- OpenAlex
- W3038554755
- Cited by
- 308
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 32 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 62 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 5
- FWCI
- 40.05
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Harvard University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Keywords
- system justification theory, social inequality, oppression, certainty, social acceptance, political attitudes, gender pay gap
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