PERSONAIITY AND SOCIAI PSYCHOIOGY BUIIETIN

]osi, Buigcss / AMBIVAIENCE AND SYSTEM ]USTIIICATION

Attitudinal Ambivalence and the
Conflict Between Group and System
]ustification Motives in Low Status Groups
]ohn T. ]ost
Diana Burgess
Suro.n UrI.e.:I,
1 I: u.uen Iu e!e.: o Io. :uu: .ou: u.e uen .II u
:,IoIoIuI orII !e.eer .ou u:IIuIor ernerIe: o
e.uIuue e!e.: o ore`: o.r .ou u.o.u!I, urn :,:eu:I-
IuIorernerIe: o erno.:e Ie :ue.Io.I, o IIIe. :uu: ou-
.ou:. 1r Sun, l, e!e.: o Io. :uu: .ou: e:II!Ien Ie::
Ir.ou u.o.II: urn o.e Ir.ou u!I.uIere Iur nIn
e!e.: o III :uu: .ou:. Pe.eIor: Iu Ie :uu: nIe.-
ere: .e.e IeIIue Ir.eu:en ou.ou u.o.II: urn
u!I.uIere uor Io. :uu: .ou:, urn Ie, Ir.eu:en
Ir.ou u.o.II: urn ne.eu:en u!I.uIere uor III
:uu: .ou:. 1r Sun, 2, Ie !eIIe Ir u u: .o.In urn :oIuI
noIrure o.IeruIor Ir.eu:en u!I.uIere or Ie u. o
.oer o.u.n euIe .II: o erne. nI:.IIruIor, !u Ie,
ne.eu:en u!I.uIere or Ie u. o er. E.Inere Ie.e IrnI-
ue: Iu :,:e-u:I,Ir .u.Iu!Ie: Ir.eu:e Ir.ou u!I.u-
Iere uor Io. :uu: .ou e!e.: urn ne.eu:e u!I.u-
Iere uor III :uu: .ou e!e.:.
Ii was ai onc iimc an assumiion ol ihc llcugling liclu
ol inicigiou iclaiions ihai mcmbcis ol uisauvaniagcu
gious coulu noi hcl bui inicinalizc sociciy`s biascs
againsi ihcm anu io auoi cciiain iclcicnccs loi oihci,
moic auvaniagcu gious c.g., Alloii, 194/19S,
Icwin, 1941). Thc hyoihcsizcu icsuli was a linu ol inlc-
iioiiiy comlcx ai ihc giou lcvcl Bciiclhcim, 1960,
Sainoll, 191, Saiiic, 194S/1976). Psychoanalyiically
insiicu woil by Anna Iicuu, Biuno Bciiclhcim, anu
oihcis on ihc hcnomcnon ol iucniilicaiion wiih ihc
aggicssoi` suggcsicu ihai among viciims ol inusiicc anu
uciivaiion, ihcic was an imlicii icscnimcni againsi
onc`s own linu, who aic, howcvci uninicniionally, ihc
icasons loi onc`s sullciing` McGuiic, 19S, . 26).
This was also ihc conclusion icachcu by Clail anu Clail
1947), whosc icscaich on Aliican Amciican chiluicn`s
iclcicnccs loi Whiic uolls is among ihc mosi inllucn-
iial social sychological woil in hisioiy liom ihc
sianuoini ol social olicy c.g., Alloii, 194/19S).
Ioi moic ihan 3 uccaucs, social scicniisis uocumcnicu
ihc cxicni io which scll-haiicu,` as ii was oiiginally
callcu, cncumbcicu minoiiiy gious low in social siaius
inici alia, Gicgoi 8 McPhcison, 1966, ]ahoua, Thom-
son, 8 Bhaii, 1972, McNaughi, 19SS).
Kuii Icwin 1941), similai io Clail anu Clail 1947),
soughi io noimalizc ihc iwin hcnomcna ol ingiou
uciogaiion anu ouigiou lavoiiiism by cxlaining ihcm
in icims ol ihc social cnviionmcni laccu by uisauvan-
iagcu gious. Hc noicu ihai alihough scll-haiicu
acais io bc a sychoaihological hcnomc-
non. . . moucinsychology lnows ihai many sychologi-
cal hcnomcna aic bui an cxicssion ol ihc siiuaiion in
which ihc inuiviuual linus himscll` . 197). Alloii
194/19S), ioo, in wiiiing aboui ihc hisioiical lighi
ol Aliican Amciicans, aigucu ihai ihcy
havc hcaiu so licqucnily ihai ihcy aic lazy, ignoiani,
uiiiy, anu sucisiiiious ihai ihcy may hall bclicvc ihc
accusaiions, anu sincc ihc iiaiis aic commonly ucsiscu
in oui wcsicin culiuic . . . which, ol couisc, Ncgiocs
293
Authors' Note: Thc liisi siuuy was conuucicu whilc ihc lcau auihoi was
sonsoicu as a osiuocioial icscaich associaic ai ihc Univcisiiy ol
Maiylanu by a Naiional Insiiiuic ol Mcnial Hcalih giani No. R01-
MH27S) awaiucu io Aiic Kiuglansli. Thc scconu siuuy was su-
oiicu by a Giauuaic Dissciiaiion Icllowshi awaiucu io ihc scconu
auihoi by ihc Univcisiiy ol Minncsoia. Coiicsonucncc conccining
ihis aiiiclc shoulu bc auuicsscu io ]ohn T. ]osi, Assisiani Piolcssoi ol
Oiganizaiional Bchavioi, Giauuaic School ol Busincss, Sianloiu Uni-
vcisiiy, Sianloiu, CA9430-01, c-mail: osi_ohnCgsb.sianloiu.cuu.
PSPB, Vol. 26 No. 3, Maich 2000 293-30
2000 by ihc Sociciy loi Pcisonaliiy anu Social Psychology, Inc.
shaic . . . somc ucgicc ol in-giou haic sccms almosi
incviiablc. . 14S)
Thc noiion ihai mcmbcis ol uisauvaniagcu gious
inicinalizc ihc culiuial valucs anusicicoiycs ol ihc vciy
social sysicm ihai oicsscs ihcm is a consiani ihicau in
Maixisi ihcoiizing on ioics ol uominani iucology, cul-
iuial hcgcmony, anu lalsc consciousncss c.g., Giamsci,
1971, Iulcs, 1971, Maix 8 Engcls, 1S46/1970). Diaw-
ing on ihis ihcoiciical iiauiiion, ]osi anu Banai 1994)
iooscu ihai ouigiou lavoiiiismamong gious low in
social sianuing is uuc io sysicm usiilicaiion icnucncics
io uclcnu ihc iucological inicgiiiy ol cxisiing social sys-
icms, cvcn ai ihc cxcnsc ol cisonal anu giou inici-
csis. Tcnucncics io accci cxisiing social aiiangcmcnis
as laii anu lcgiiimaic aic noi ncccssaiily in conllici wiih
icnucncics io ucvclo osiiivc social iucniiiics c.g.,
Tylci 8 Dcgocy, 199), cxcci whcn mcmbcis ol uisau-
vaniagcu gious musi choosc bciwccn ihc inicicsis anu
csiccm ol ihcii own giou giou usiilicaiion) anu ihc
iaiionaliiy anu laiincss ol ihc social sysicm sysicm usii-
licaiion). Unuci ihcsc ciicumsianccs, giou mcmbcis
aic laccu wiih-ai ihc vciy lcasi-a cciiain amouni ol
ambivalcncc conccining ihcii giou mcmbcishi.
A numbci ol mcihouological anu subsianiivc obcc-
iions havc bccn iaiscu againsi ihc ioncciing icscaich
conuucicuby Clail anuClail c.g., Banls, 1976). Subsc-
qucni icscaich has icnucu io linu ihai Aliican Amcii-
cans osscss, il anyihing, highci cisonal scll-csiccm
ihan uo Euiocan Amciicans Cioclci 8 Maoi, 19S9,
Poiici 8 Washingion, 1993), alihough ihc conncciion
io sicicoiycs anuoihci giou-lcvcl bclicls is lcss clcai. A
numbci ol liclu siuuics-cvcn icccnily-inuicaic ihai
many low siaius gious coniinuc io cngagc in sysicmus-
iilicaiion anu io uislay iclcicnccs loi highci siaius
ouigious c.g., Biown, 197S, Hcwsionc 8 Waiu, 19S,
Mlicli 8Ellcmcis, 1996, Slcvingion, 19S1, Sniuciman8
Piazza, 1993).
Rcvicws ol ihc cxciimcnial liiciaiuic on inicigiou
iclaiions similaily icvcal siiong cviucncc ol ouigiou
lavoiiiism among mcmbcis ol gious ihai aic assigncu
io osiiions ol low siaius c.g., Hinllc 8 Biown, 1990,
]osi 8 Banai, 1994). Nonc ol ihis is io say ihai all low
siaius gious cxhibii ouigiou lavoiiiism, only ihai ii is
anobscivablc social hcnomcnonucsciving ol cxlana-
iion. Thc icscaich icoiicu hcic auuicsscs ihc ossibil-
iiy ihai mcmbcis ol uisauvaniagcu gious aic laccu wiih
a sychological conllici bciwccn giou usiilicaiion icn-
ucncics io ucvclo anu iomulgaic lavoiablc imagcs ol
ihcii own gious, on onc hanu, anu sysicm usiilicaiion
icnucncics io accci ihc lcgiiimacy ol ihc siaius quo, io
blamc lcllow ingiou mcmbcis loi ihcii low siaius, anu
io cnuoisc ihc suciioiiiy ol highci siaius ouigious, on
ihc oihci scc also ]osi, in icss, ]osi 8 Thomson,
199S).
Onc ol ihc ways in which social iucniiiy ihcoiy has
hanulcu ihc cllccis ol siaius uillcicnccs on inicigiou
bchavioi has bccn io locus on ihc iclcvancc ol uimcn-
sions on which inicigiou comaiisons aic mauc c.g.,
Mullcn, Biown, 8 Smiih, 1992, Scais 8 Mansicau,
19S9, van Knicnbcig, 197S). Sccilically, ii has bccn
suggcsicu ihai mcmbcis ol low siaius gious may accci
ihcii inlciioiiiy anu cngagc in ouigiou lavoiiiism on
uimcnsions ihai aic highly iclcvani io ihc siaius uillci-
cnccs, bui ihcy may cxhibii ingiou lavoiiiism on iiiclc-
vani uimcnsions as a way ol comcnsaiing loi an oihci-
wisc ncgaiivc social iucniiiy. Slcvingion 19S1), loi
insiancc, cxamincu inicigiou iclaiions among iolcs-
sional nuising gious ihai uillcicu in siaius anu lounu
ihai low siaius giou mcmbcis uugcu ihc oihci giou
io bc moic iniclligcni, ambiiious, icsonsiblc, oigan-
izcu, anu conliucni ihan ihcii own giou, bui ihcy saw
ihcmsclvcs as moic chccilul, ihoughilul, hay, anu
iaciical ihan ihc ouigiou.
Iiom a sysicm usiilicaiion ciscciivc, onc unin-
icnucu conscqucncc ol ihis siaic ol allaiis may bc io
incicasc iucological suoii loi ihc sysicm ol siaius uil-
lcicnccs, insolai as ihc suciioiiiy ol ihc high siaius
giou is gianicu on uimcnsions ihai maiici mosi loi ihc
siaius uillcicnccs ]osi 8 Banai, 1994). Mcmbcis ol low
siaius gious may lccl bciici by allcging ihcii suciioiiiy
on iiiclcvani uimcnsions, bui ihc oiiginal siaius uillci-
cncc gocs unchallcngcu. Thus, ihc iclcvancc ol ihc com-
aiaiivc uimcnsion was consiucicu io bc a oicniial
mouciaioi ol ingiou anu ouigiou lavoiiiism among
highanulowsiaius gious inSiuuy 1, suggcsiing ihai ihc
cnhanccmcni ol social iucniilicaiion oi giou usiilica-
iion) anu sysicm usiilicaiion aic noi always incomaii-
blc goals, cvcnamong mcmbcis ol lowsiaius gious scc
also ]osi, in icss). A maoi goal ol ihc icscni icscaich
was io cxloic ihc ihcoiciically iclaicu ossibiliiy ihai
conllicis bciwccn giou anu sysicm usiilicaiion moiivcs
also icsuli in gicaici aiiiiuuinal ambivalcncc on ihc aii
ol inuiviuual mcmbcis ol lowsiaius gious, csccially on
aiiiibuics ihai aic uiiccily iclcvani io ihc siaius
uillcicnccs.
A!I.uIere To.u.n Ie 1r.ou
Accoiuing io sysicm usiilicaiion ihcoiy, mcmbcis ol
low siaius gious aic laccu gcncially wiih an incomaii-
biliiy bciwccn giou usiilicaiion moiivcs io lavoi mcm-
bcis ol ihcii own giou anu sysicm usiilicaiion moiivcs
io accci ihc lcgiiimacy ol ihc siaius quo anu io lavoi
mcmbcis ol high siaius ouigious ]osi, in icss, ]osi 8
Banai, 1994, ]osi 8Thomson, 199S). Thcic is nocoiic-
sonuing conllici bciwccn giou anu sysicm usiilica-
294 PERSONAIITY AND SOCIAI PSYCHOIOGY BUIIETIN
iion icnucncics loi mcmbcis ol high siaius gious
bccausc boih iycs ol icnucncics ull loi ingiou lavoi-
iiism anu ouigiou uciogaiion. Consisicni wiih ihis
ioosiiion, icscaich by ]osi anu Thomson 199S) sug-
gcsis ihai ihc giou usiilicaiion anu sysicm usiilicaiion
comoncnis ol social uominancc oiicniaiion Piaiio,
Siuanius, Siallwoiih, 8 Mallc, 1994) aic moic highly
inicicoiiclaicu loi Euiocan Amciicans ihan loi Alii-
can Amciicans. Oihci cviucncc ihai uisauvaniagcu
giou mcmbcis cxciicncc a high ucgicc ol ambiva-
lcncc wiih icgaiu io social iucniilicaiion comcs liom a
iclicaiion by Iinc anu Bowcis 19S4) ol Clail anu
Clail`s 1947) oiiginal linuing ihai Aliican Amciican
chiluicn cxicss ambivalcni aiiiiuucs iowaiu Blacl uolls
anu cxciicncc somc ucgicc ol conlusion aiounu issucs
ol iacial scll-iucniilicaiion.
Mosi icvious icscaich on ihc subcci ol ambivalcncc
iowaiu social gious has locuscu on ihc ambivalcni aiii-
iuucs hclu by mcmbcis ol iclaiivcly high siaius gious
iowaiu iclaiivcly low siaius gious c.g., Gaciinci 8
Doviuio, 19S6). Kaiz anu his collcagucs Hass, Kaiz,
Rizzo, Bailcy, 8 Eiscnsiaui, 1991, Kaiz 8 Hass, 19SS), loi
cxamlc, havc aigucu ihai bccausc ol a sychological
conllici bciwccncgaliiaiianvalucs anu a commiimcni io
ihc Pioicsiani Woil Eihic, Euiocan Amciicans olicn
holu ambivalcni aiiiiuucs iowaiu uisauvaniagcu gious
such as Aliican Amciicans. High siaius ciccivcis also
havc bccn lounu io holu ambivalcni aiiiiuucs iowaiu
lowci siaius gious such as womcn Glicl, Dicbolu,
Bailcy-Wcinci, 8 Zhu, 1997, Glicl 8 Iislc, 1996, Mac-
Donalu 8 Zanna, 199S) anu ihc hysically uisablcu
Kaiz, 19S1). Much lcss icscaich aiicniion has bccn
givcn io ihc ossibiliiy, cxloicu hcic, ihai mcmbcis ol
low siaius gious may holu ambivalcni aiiiiuucs aboui
ihcii own giou.
Inihc icscni icscaich, uccisions aboui howioocia-
iionalizc aiiiiuuinal ambivalcncc wcic guiucu by Piics-
ici anu Pciiy`s 1996) analysis ol uominani anu conllici-
ing aiiiiuuinal icsonscs. Thicc cmiiically valiuaicu
mcasuics ol aiiiiuuinal ambivalcncc uiscusscu by ihcsc
auihois wcic uscu in ihc icscni icscaich. All ihicc
mcasuics cmloy maihcmaiical loimulac loi calculaiing
obcciivc lcvcls ol ambivalcncc on ihc basis ol aiiici-
anis` inuccnucni uugmcnis on osiiivc c.g., iniclli-
gcni) anu ncgaiivc c.g., uniniclligcni) uimcnsions,
which aic ihcn iianslaicu inio uominani anu conlliciing
icsonscs. Thc Similaiiiy Inicnsiiy Moucl SIM)
ucsciibcu by Thomson, Zanna, anu Giillin 199) con-
cciualizcs ambivalcncc as a oini lunciion ol similaiiiy
ihc cxicni io which uominani anu conlliciing icaciions
aic similai oi uillcicni liom onc anoihci) anu inicnsiiy
ihc cxicni io which ciihci oi boih icaciions aic icla-
iivcly cxiicmc in ihcmsclvcs). This is ihc mcasuic ihai
has bccn uscu mosi olicn in iioi invcsiigaiions ol
ambivalcncc on ihc aii ol high siaius gious iowaiu
mcmbcis ol low siaius gious c.g., Glicl ci al., 1997,
Glicl 8 Iislc, 1996, MacDonalu 8 Zanna, 199S). A scc-
onu mcasuic, lnownas ihc Conlliciing Rcaciions Moucl
CRM), iicais ambivalcncc in icims ol ihc cxiicmiiy ol
ihc conlliciing icaciions only, wiihoui ialing inio
accouni ihc uominani icaciion Kalan, 1972). A ihiiu
mcasuic, lavoicu by Piicsici anu Pciiy 1996), is
iclciicuioas ihc Giauual ThicsholuMoucl GTM), anu
accoiuing io ihis ioccuuic, ambivalcncc is ociaiional-
izcu as a lunciionol boihconlliciing anu uominani icac-
iions whcn ihc conlliciing comoncni is iclaiivcly wcal,
bui whcn conlliciing icaciions aic abovc a cciiain
ihicsholu, ambivalcncc is consiucicu io bc a lunciion ol
ihc conlliciing icaciions only. By using ihicc uisiinci
mcihous ol calculaiing ambivalcncc, wc soughi io maxi-
mizc convcigcni valiuiiy in asscssing ihc naiuic ol aiiiiu-
uinal ambivalcncc on ihc aii ol high siaius anu low
siaius gious.
Ii was hyoihcsizcu ihai among mcmbcis ol sycho-
logically mcaninglul gious ihai aic low in social siaius
loi whom ai lcasi mouciaic lcvcls ol social iucniilica-
iion/giou usiilicaiion moiivcs aic icscni), ambiva-
lcncc iowaiu ihc ingiou woulu bc inicnsilicu as sysicm
usiilicaiion moiivcs aic incicascu. In Siuuy 1, ihc low
siaius ingiou was comoscu ol lcllow siuucnis ai onc`s
own univcisiiy, who wcic saiu io bc lcss sociocconomi-
cally succcsslul ihan siuucnis ai a iival univcisiiy. In
Siuuy 2, ihc basis loi siaius uisiinciions was gcnuci,
womcn consiiiuicu ihc lowci siaius ingiou in ihc con-
icxi ol a gcnuci uisciiminaiion lawsuii. Sysicm usiilica-
iion was ociaiionalizcu in ihc liisi siuuy as ciccivcu
lcgiiimacy ol ihc sociocconomic uillcicnccs scc also
]osi, in icss), anu ii was ociaiionalizcu in ihc scconu
siuuy in icims ol inuiviuual uillcicncc mcasuics-sc-
cilically, ihc bclicl in a usi woilu anu social uominancc
oiicniaiion. Ii was hyoihcsizcu ihai loi mcmbcis ol
gious ihai aic high in social siaius, ambivalcncc woulu
bc iclaicuncgaiivcly iosysicmusiilying vaiiablcs insolai
as giouusiilicaiionanusysicmusiilicaiionmoiivcs aic
comlcmcniaiy loi high siaius gious. Sysicm usiilica-
iion vaiiablcs, in oihci woius, shoulu icuucc ambiva-
lcncc among highsiaius gious bui ihcy shoulu incicasc
ambivalcncc among low siaius gious, csccially on
siaius-iclcvani uimcnsions ol comaiison.
Vu.Iu!Ie: o S,:e Ju:IIuIor
Accoiuing io a sysicm usiilicaiion analysis ol inici-
giou iclaiions, mcmbcis ol gious ihai aic lowinsocial
oi maiciial sianuing shoulu cxhibii ingiou uciogaiion
anu ouigiou lavoiiiism io ihc cxicni ihai ihcy ciccivc
ihc ovciaiching social sysicm io bc laii, lcgiiimaic, anu
]osi, Buigcss / AMBIVAIENCE AND SYSTEM ]USTIIICATION 29
usiiliablc c.g., ]osi, in icss, ]osi 8 Banai, 1994). In
suoii ol ihis oini, an inllucniial siuuy by Tuinci anu
Biown 197S) lounu ihai mcmbcis ol a low siaius giou
cxhibiicu ouigiou lavoiiiism unuci conuiiions ihai
convcycu ciihci lcgiiimacy oi siabiliiy, ihc only siiuaiion
in which ihcy lailcu io show ouigiou lavoiiiism was
whcn ihc siaius sysicm was ciccivcu io bc boih illcgiii-
maic anu unsiablc. Moic icccnily, a siuuy by Ellcmcis,
Willc, anu van Knicnbcig 1993, Exciimcni 1) inui-
caicu ihai ihc illcgiiimaic assignmcni ol a giou io a low
siaius osiiion icsulicu in cnhanccu ingiou iucniilica-
iion, alihough no cllccis wcic obscivcu on ingiou
lavoiiiism ci sc anu no mcasuics ol ingiou ambiva-
lcncc wcic ialcn.
Alihough ihc siuuics caiiicu oui by Tuinci anu
Biown 197S) anu Ellcmcis ci al. 1993) uo suggcsi ihai
ouigiou lavoiiiismamong lowsiaius gious is linlcu io
cicciions ol lcgiiimacy, ihcic aic ai lcasi ihicc ways in
which ihc signilicancc ol ihis conncciion mighi bc
cxanucu. Iiisi, all ihicc ol ihcsc siuuics mcasuicu
ingiou anu ouigiou lavoiiiism wiih ihc usc ol oini-
allocaiion maiiiccs, nonc ol ihcm auuicsscu colc`s
cvaluaiivc bclicls aboui ihc chaiaciciisiics ol ihc
ingiou anu ihc ouigiou. Iiom ihc sianuoini ol sys-
icm usiilicaiion ihcoiy, sicicoiycs anu oihci social
uugmcnis aic insiiumcnial io ihc lcgiiimaiion ol social
anu cconomic uillcicnccs bciwccn gious Hollman 8
Huisi, 1990, ]aclman 8 Scnici, 19S3, ]osi 8 Banai,
1994, Maoi, 1994). Thc icscni icscaich cxamincs
cllccis ol social siaius on cvaluaiivc bclicls aboui ihc
chaiaciciisiics ol ingiou anu ouigiou mcmbcis
Siuuy 1) anu on lcclings uiiccicu ai an inuiviuual
ingiou mcmbci who is osing a ihicai io ihc sysicm
Siuuy 2).
A scconu way in which ihc icscni icscaich gocs
bcyonuasi icscaichis ihai icvious ociaiionalizaiions
ol illcgiiimacy involvcu an aaicni aci ol caiicious-
ncss oi imioiiciy on ihc aii ol ihc cxciimcnici.
Alihough ihc ciccivcu lcgiiimacy ol sccilic auihoiiiy
liguics is an imoiiani icuicioi ol social anu oliiical
aiiiiuucs c.g., Tylci, 1997), ii also is ossiblc loi colc
io havc gcncializcu aiiiiuucs aboui ihc laiincss anu
lcgiiimacy ol hiciaichical sysicms suchas ihosc involving
incomc uillcicnccs among vaiious social gious c.g.,
Klucgcl 8 Smiih, 19S6, Ianc, 1962). Thcsc iycs ol
lcgiiimacy aiaisals aic mcasuicu in Siuuy 1. In auui-
iion, ihcic aic inuiviuual uillcicncc vaiiablcs ihai aic
ucsigncu io gaugc gcncializcu aiiiiuucs conccining sys-
icm usiilicaiion moiivcs. Thcsc incluuc Rubin anu
Pclau`s 197) Bclicl in a ]usi Woilu scalc anu Piaiio
ci al.`s 1994) Social Dominancc Oiicniaiion scalc, boih
ol which wcic auminisicicu in Siuuy 2.
Aihiiuway inwhichihc icscni icscaichcxicnus ic-
vious concciualizaiions ol ihc cllccis ol social siaius on
aiiiiuucs iowaiu ingious anu ouigious is io locus on
ambivalcncc as a lunciion ol ihc conllici bciwccn giou
anusysicmusiilicaiionmoiivcs. To ihc cxicni ihai mcm-
bcis ol low siaius gious aic ioin bciwccn allcgianccs io
ihcii own gious, on onc hanu, anu ihc icnucncy io ci-
ccivc ihc ovciaiching sysicmio bc laii anu usi anu lcgiii-
maic, on ihc oihci hanu, ihcii aiiiiuucs shoulu icllcci a
ucgicc ol ambivalcncc ihai is noi icscni loi mcmbcis
ol high siaius gious. By looling ai ambivalcncc on
siaius-iclcvani anusiaius-iiiclcvani aiiiibuics scaiaicly,
ii is ossiblc io uisiinguish gcnuinc aiiiiuuinal ambiva-
lcncc, ihai is, iiuly conlliciual aiiiiuucs, liom a linu ol
aiiilaciual ambivalcncc ihai mighi aiisc liom ihc laci
ihai mcmbcis ol low siaius gious icnu io cxhibii oui-
giou lavoiiiism on siaius-iclcvani uimcnsions anu
ingiou lavoiiiismon siaius-iiiclcvani uimcnsions c.g.,
Scais 8 Mansicau, 19S9, van Knicnbcig, 197S). In
oihci woius, ihc sychological conllici bciwccn ihc
ucmanus ol ihc giou anu ihc ucmanus ol ihc social sys-
icm is hyoihcsizcu io ialc lacc on a iiaii-by-iiaii basis,
anu ii is noi icsolvcu solcly by cvaluaiing gious uillci-
cnily oniclcvani anuiiiclcvani iiaiis. Iuiihcimoic, vaii-
ablcs associaicu wiih incicascu sysicm usiilicaiion, such
as ciccivcu lcgiiimacy, bclicl in a usi woilu, anu social
uominancc, also shoulu bc associaicu wiih incicascu
ambivalcncc on ihc aii ol low siaius gious anu
uccicascuambivalcncc onihc aii ol highsiaius gious.
Ii is icasonablc io cxcci ihai such aiicins woulu bc
siiongci on siaius-iclcvani ihan siaius-iiiclcvani aiiiib-
uics insolai as ihc conllici bciwccngiouanusysicmus-
iilicaiion shoulu bc mosi salicni whcn onc consiucis
aiiiibuics ihai aic closcly iclaicu io ihc siaius sysicm.
OVERVIEW OI STUDIES
Thc icscni icscaich was ucsigncu so ihai ihc cllccis
ol social siaius anu sysicm usiilicaiion coulu bc cxam-
incu on aiiiiuucs iowaiu ihc ingiou anu ouigiou.
Siuuy 1 uscu an cxciimcnial ioccuuic whcicby icla-
iivc sociocconomic siaius was maniulaicu via lalsc lccu-
bacl ai ihc giou lcvcl. Siuuy 2 mauc usc ol gcnuci as a
ical-woilu siaius uisiinciion in ihc conicxi ol a hyo-
ihciical univcisiiy uisuic involving gcnuci uisciimina-
iion. Sysicm usiilicaiion was ociaiionalizcu as ci-
ccivcu lcgiiimacy ol ihc sociocconomic succcss
uillcicnccs in Siuuy 1 anu as usi woilu anu social uomi-
nancc bclicls in Siuuy 2. Ii was hyoihcsizcu ihai, in gcn-
cial, ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc ingiou woulu bc gicaici
among mcmbcis ol low siaius iaihci ihan high siaius
gious anu ihai sysicm usiilicaiion icnucncics woulu
mouciaic ihc cxccicu iclaiion bciwccn giou siaius
anu ambivalcncc such ihai sysicm usiilicaiion woulu
incicasc ambivalcncc among mcmbcis ol low siaius
gious bui uccicasc ambivalcncc among mcmbcis ol
high siaius gious.
296 PERSONAIITY AND SOCIAI PSYCHOIOGY BUIIETIN
STUDY 1
O.e..Ie.
In an cxciimcnial siuuy, Univcisiiy ol Maiylanu siu-
ucnis icccivcu bogus inloimaiion suggcsiing ihai Uni-
vcisiiy ol Maiylanu alumni ihc ingiou) achicvc ciihci
gicaici oi lcssci sociocconomic succcss as mcasuicu by
avciagc osicollcgc linancial incomcs, caicci auvancc-
mcni, siaius ol iolcssions cnicicu, anu aumissions io
giauuaic anuiolcssional schools) ihanuo Univcisiiy ol
Viiginia alumni ihc ouigiou). Paiiicianis wcic aslcu
io comlcic cvaluaiivc iaiings ol ihc ingiou anu ihc
ouigiou, along wiih a mcasuic ol ciccivcu lcgiiimacy
ol ihc sysicm ol sociocconomic succcss uillcicnccs, io
asscss ihc cllccis ol sociocconomic siaius anu ciccivcu
lcgiiimacy on ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc ingiou anu on
ingiou vcisus ouigiou lavoiiiism.
METHOD
Pu.IIur:
Onc hunuicu anu ihiiiy-onc Univcisiiy ol Maiylanu
siuucnis voluniccicu loi ihc cxciimcni io saiisly a
couisc icquiicmcni loi iniiouucioiy sychology. Ol
ihc 11S aiiicianis who uiscloscu gcnuci inloimaiion,
61 wcic lcmalc anu 7 wcic malc. Paiiiciaiion iool
lacc in gious ihai iangcu in sizc liom 6 io 11 cisons.
Bcloic aiiiving, colc lncw only ihc uuiaiion anu iiilc
ol ihc cxciimcni, which was billcu as Thc Inici-
Collcgiaic Siuuy ol Absiiaci Thoughi.`
P.oenu.e
O.e..Ie.. Evciy aiiiciani icccivcu an cxciimcnial
boollci ihai coniaincu all ol ihc lollowing: a) a covci
shcci cxlaining ihc osicnsiblc uiosc ol ihc siuuy,
which was io comaic Maiylanu anu Viiginia siuucnis
on a vaiiciy ol uimcnsions iclaicu io vcibal icasoning
anu sociocconomic succcss, b) a iablc ol uaia allcgculy
ucmonsiiaiing ihc cxisicncc ol sociocconomic succcss
uillcicnccs bciwccn giauuaics ol Maiylanu anu Vii-
ginia, c) a scalc mcasuiing cicciions ol lcgiiimacy ol
ihc sociocconomic succcss uillcicnccs, u) a iasl ol
absiiaci vcibal icasoning in which aiiicianis cvalu-
aicu ihc qualiiy ol scvcial ihoughi-lisis, siicngihcning
ihc cicuibiliiy ol ihc covci sioiy, anu c) mcasuics ol
cvaluaiivc bclicls aboui Maiylanu anu Viiginia siuucni
oulaiions, liom which ingiou lavoiiiism anu
ingiou ambivalcncc coulu bc calculaicu.
1rneerner Vu.Iu!Ie
AurIuIuIor:
AurIuIuIor o :oIoeoroI :ue::. Shoiily alici ihcii
aiiival, aiiicianis wcic inloimcu ihai ihc siuuy in
which ihcy wcic aboui io aiiiciaic was aii ol a laigci
icscaich iocci involving oihci ublic univcisiiics
such as ihc Univcisiiy ol Viiginia) anu ihai ihc aim ol
ihc icscaichwas io unucisianuwhy uillcicnccs insocial
anu cconomic succcss cxisi bciwccn giauuaics ol uillci-
cni collcgcs anu univcisiiics.` Aioximaicly hall ol ihc
aiiicianis r 62) icau siaiisiics inuicaiing ihai Maiy-
lanu giauuaics wcic signilicanily lcss succcsslul in icims
ol sociocconomic achicvcmcni ihan wcic Viiginia
giauuaics low siaius conuiiion), whcicas ihc siaiisiics
icau by ihc oihci hall r 69) inuicaicu ihai Maiylanu
siuucnis wcic signilicanily moic succcsslul ihanViiginia
giauuaics high siaius conuiiion). Thc siaiisiics
incluucu inloimaiion conccining avciagc linancial
incomc, caicci auvanccmcni anu iomoiions, siaius ol
iolcssions cnicicu, iaics ol aumission io giauuaic anu
iolcssional schools, anu ycais ol osigiauuaic cuuca-
iion comlcicu scc ]osi, in icss).
Deerner Aeu:u.e:
CIeI or Ie urIuIuIor o :oIoeoroI :ue::. Soon
alici bcing inloimcu aboui ihc allcgcu sociocconomic
uillcicnccs bciwccn Maiylanu anu Viiginia giauuaics,
aiiicianis wcic aslcuio icsonuio ihc lollowing qucs-
iion: Do you ihinl ihai Maiylanu siuucnis` social anu
cconomic succcss is gicaici oi lcss ihan ihai ol Viiginia
siuucnis.` Rcsonucnis wcic aslcu io ciiclc a numbci
ona 1-oini scalc ianging liomuIIe:: iouI.eue..
Pe.eIor: o IeIIu,. Paiiicianis wcic aslcu how
laii oi unlaii, how usiiliablc oi unusiiliablc, anu how
lcgiiimaic oi illcgiiimaic ihc sociocconomic succcss uil-
lcicnccs bciwccn Maiylanu anu Viiginia giauuaics
wcic. All ol ihcsc iaiings wcic mauc on 1-oini scalcs
ianging liom e:.eeI, uruI. io e:.eeI, uI.. A gcncial
inucx ol ciccivcu lcgiiimacy was calculaicu by avciag-
ing acioss ihc ihicc iicms Cionbach`s .71).
A!I .uI ere o.u.n Ie I r.ou. To mcasuic
ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc ingiou, aiiicianis wcic
aslcu io inuicaic how iniclligcni anu how uniniclli-
gcni, how haiu-woiling anu how lazy, how slillcu anu
how unslillcu ai vcibal icasoning, how liicnuly anu how
unliicnuly, how honcsi anu how uishoncsi, anu how
inicicsiing anu how uninicicsiing cach ol ihc iwo
gious aic in gcncial. All cvaluaiions wcic mauc on iai-
ing scalcs ianging liom 0 ro u uII) io 9 e:.eeI,). By
cliciiing inuccnucni uugmcnis ol lavoiablc anu unla-
voiablc olcs loi cach aiiiibuic, ii was ossiblc io calcu-
laic ihicc uillcicni mcasuics ol ambivalcncc scc Piics-
ici 8 Pciiy, 1996, Thomson ci al., 199).
Iollowing Piicsici anu Pciiy 1996), uominani D)
anu conlliciing C) aiiiiuuinal comoncnis wcic iucnii-
licu loi cach aii ol iiaii iaiings c.g., iniclligcni vs.
uniniclligcni). Ioi cxamlc, il ihc ingiou icccivcu a 7
]osi, Buigcss / AMBIVAIENCE AND SYSTEM ]USTIIICATION 297
loi ihc iaiing ol iniclligcni anu a 4 loi ihc iaiing ol unin-
iclligcni, ihcn D 7 anu C 4. Thc ihicc mcihous ol cal-
culaiing ambivalcncc SIM, CRM, anu GTM) aic ic-
scnicu bclow. Ioi claboiaiions anu uciivaiions ol ihcsc
loimulac, scc Piicsici anu Pciiy {1996|.)
SIM: Ambivalcncc SIM) 3C - D
CRM: Ambivalcncc CRM) 2C
GTM: Ambivalcncc GTM) C
.
- D
1/C
,
whcic 1 is auucu io C anu D io avoiu uivision by 0.
An ambivalcncc scoic was calculaicu loi cach inuiviu-
ual icscaich aiiiciani anu loi cach aiiiibuic aii c.g.,
iniclligcni/uniniclligcni) accoiuing io ihc abovc ihicc
loimulac. Ovciall ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc ingiou was
ihcn calculaicu by ialing ihc mcans ol ihc ambivalcncc
scoics acioss cach ol ihc six aiiiibuic uimcnsions. Thus,
ambivalcncc was calculaicu in a wiihin-aiiicianis lash-
ion loi cach iiaii inuccnucnily bcloic aggicgaiing
acioss iiaiis anuacioss icscaichaiiicianis. This mcans
ihai ambivalcncc is a iociiy ol inuiviuual icsonucnis
iaihci ihan a iociiy ol ihc giou as a wholc.
1r.ou u.o.II:. Rcscaich in social iucniiiy ihcoiy
has ucmonsiiaicu ihai mcmbcis ol low siaius gious lic-
qucnily cxhibii ouigiou lavoiiiism on siaius-iclcvani
uimcnsions ol comaiison bui ihcy comcnsaic loi ihis
oicniial ihicai io iucniiiy by cxhibiiing ingiou lavoiii-
ism on siaius-iiiclcvani uimcnsions. To mcasuic
ingiou lavoiiiism on iclcvani aiiiibuics in ihc icscni
siuuy, ihc abovc iaiings ol iniclligcncc/uniniclligcncc,
haiu-woiling/lazy, anu slillcu/unslillcu ai vcibal ica-
soningwcic uscu. Tomcasuic ingioulavoiiiismoniiiclc-
vani aiiiibuics, iaiings ol liicnuly/unliicnuly, honcsi/
uishoncsi, anu inicicsiing/uninicicsiing wcic uscu.
Ingiou lavoiiiism was calculaicu by subiiaciing
unlavoiablc iaiings liom lavoiablc iaiings loi cach ol
ihc iwo gious anu ihcn by subiiaciing ouigiou iaiings
Viiginia) liom ingiou iaiings Maiylanu) anu uiviu-
ing by ihc numbci ol uimcnsions. Iollowing ihis iocc-
uuic, osiiivc scoics icllcci ingioulavoiiiismanuncga-
iivc scoics icllcci ouigiou lavoiiiism. Piincial
comoncnis analysis using obliquc ioiaiion) ol
ingiou lavoiiiism scoics on ihc six uimcnsions yiclucu
a iwo-lacioi soluiion, such ihai iaiings ol iniclligcncc,
inuusiiiousncss, anu slilllulncss ai absiiaci vcibal ica-
soning loaucu cxclusivcly on Iacioi 1 wiih loauings
gicaici ihan.7, whcicas iaiings ol liicnulincss, inicicsi-
ingncss, anu honcsiy loaucu cxclusivcly on Iacioi 2 wiih
loauings gicaici ihan .70.
RESUITS
CIeI or Ie urIuIuIor o :oIoeoroI :ue::. As a
chccl on ihc maniulaiion ol sociocconomic succcss,
aiiicianis wcic aslcu whcihci ihcy bclicvcu Maiylanu
siuucnis` social anu cconomic succcss io bc gicaici oi
lcss ihan ihai ol Viiginia siuucnis. As cxccicu, Maiy-
lanusiuucnis` succcss was uugcuiobc gicaici iclaiivc io
ihai ol Viiginia siuucnis in ihc high siaius conuiiion A
10.71) as comaicu wiih ihc low siaius conuiiion A
6.11). Analysis ol vaiiancc conliims ihai ihc maniulaiion
was cxiicmcly succcsslul, as inuicaicu by a hugc main
cllcci ol ingiou siaius, F1, 130) 112.07, .0001.
Pe.eIor: o IeIIu,. A main cllcci ol ingiou siaius
onciccivculcgiiimacy was obiaincu, F1, 130) 4.61,
.0. Mcmbcis ol high siaius gious ciccivcu ihc sysicm
ol sociocconomic succcss uillcicnccs bciwccn gious io
bc moic laii, lcgiiimaic, anu usiiliablc A S.S3) ihan
uiu mcmbcis ol low siaius gious A S.0).
A!I.uIere o.u.n Ie Ir.ou. Thicc maoi inuiccs ol
aiiiiuuinal ambivalcncc wcic uscu in ihis icscaich: ihc
SIM, ihc CRM, anu ihc GTM. As can bc sccn in Tablc 1,
ambivalcncc uiiccicu ai ihc ingiou was highci loi
mcmbcis ol low siaius gious ihan loi mcmbcis ol high
siaius gious. Ioi all ihicc mcasuics, uillcicnccs uuc io
siaius ol ihc ingiou wcic siaiisiically icliablc, as ucici-
mincu by icsi icsulis icscnicu inihc lasi columnol ihc
iablc. Thus, siiong suoii was obiaincu loi ihc
hyoihcsis ihai mcmbcis ol low siaius gious cxhibii
siiongci aiiiiuuinal ambivalcncc ihan uo mcmbcis ol
high siaius gious, icsumably bccausc giou usiilica-
iion anu sysicm usiilicaiion moiivcs aic in conllici loi
low siaius gious bui aic comlcmcniaiy loi high siaius
gious ]osi 8 Thomson, 199S).
Somc icaucis mighi woiiy ihai ihc gicaici ambiva-
lcncc cxhibiicu by low siaius giou mcmbcis is a mcih-
ouological aiiilaci iclaicu io ihc icnucncy loi low siaius
giou mcmbcis io uislay ingiou lavoiiiism on siaius-
iiiclcvani uimcnsions anu ouigiou lavoiiiism on
siaius-iclcvani uimcnsions c.g., Mullcn ci al., 1992).
Bccausc ihc ioccuuic loi calculaiing ambivalcncc
scoics involvcs liisi comuiing an ambivalcncc scoic loi
cach aiiiibuic aii c.g., honcsi/uishoncsi) anu ihcn
avciaging ambivalcncc scoics acioss aiiiibuic aiis, uil-
lcicnccs uuc io siaius ol ihc ingiou on iclcvani vcisus
iiiclcvani ingiou lavoiiiism cannoi accouni loi ihc
ambivalcncc linuings. Ncvciihclcss, ihcic aic ihcoicii-
cal as wcll as mcihouological icasons loi invcsiigaiing
siaius uillcicnccs wiih icscci io ambivalcncc on iclc-
vani anu iiiclcvani uimcnsions scaiaicly.
Rccaicu mcasuics analyscs wcic conuucicu io
cxaminc main anu iniciaciion cllccis ol ingiou siaius
high vs. low) anu aiiiibuic iclcvancc iclcvani vs. iiiclc-
vani) loi cach ol ihc ihicc mcasuics ol ambivalcncc. In
29S PERSONAIITY AND SOCIAI PSYCHOIOGY BUIIETIN
cvciy casc, boih main cllccis anu ihc iniciaciion cllcci
aiiaincusiaiisiical signilicancc. Ioi ihc SIMmcasuic, loi
cxamlc, ihcic was a main cllcci ol siaius such ihai F1,
129) 4.29, .0, a main cllcci ol aiiiibuic iclcvancc
such ihai F1, 129) 12.09, .001, anu an iniciaciion
bciwccnsiaius anu iclcvancc suchihai F1, 129) 6.99,
.01. Ioi ihc CRM mcasuic, ihc icsulis wcic vciy similai,
ihcic wcic main cllccis ol siaius, F1, 129) .62, .02,
anu iclcvancc, F1, 129) 16.07, .0001, as wcll as an
iniciaciion cllcci, F1, 129) 4.SS, .03. Ioi ihc GTM
mcasuic, ihc F valucs wcic, icscciivcly, 4.19 .0),
S.9S .0), anu6.29 .0), wiihucgiccs ol liccuom
again cqual io 1 anu 129. In all cascs, mcmbcis ol low
siaius gious cxhibiicu gicaici aiiiiuuinal ambivalcncc
ihan uiu mcmbcis ol high siaius gious, boih gious
showcu gicaici ambivalcncc on siaius-iclcvani iiaiis,
anu ihc uillcicncc bciwccn high anu low siaius gious
was moic ionounccu on iclcvani ihan on siaius-
iiiclcvani iiaiis. As can bc sccn liom ihc comaiisons ol
mcans icscnicu in Tablc 2, uillcicnccs bciwccn high
anu low siaius gious aic siaiisiically signilicani loi
siaius-iclcvani aiiiibuics only.
Ii was hyoihcsizcu ihai loi mcmbcis ol low siaius
gious, ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc ingiou woulu bc asso-
ciaicu osiiivcly wiih ihc cicciion ihai ihc sociocco-
nomic uillcicnccs bciwccn ihc gious wcic lcgiiimaic.
Collasing acioss iclcvani anu iiiclcvani aiiiibuics, all
ihicc mcasuics ol ambivalcncc wcic inuccu lounu io
coiiclaic osiiivcly wiih ciccivcu lcgiiimacy ol ihc
sociocconomic succcss uillcicnccs loi mcmbcis ol low
siaius gious. Thcsc coiiclaiions aic icscnicu in ihc
io ancl ol Tablc 3, along wiih Z scoics loi ihc uillci-
cncc bciwccn coiiclaiions loi high anu low siaius
gious Howcll, 1992). Ioi mcmbcis ol high siaius
gious, by coniiasi, ihc ihicc mcasuics ol ambivalcncc
coiiclaicu ncgaiivcly wiih ciccivcu lcgiiimacy,
alihough ihcsc coiiclaiions wcic wcalci in magniiuuc
ihan ihosc obiaincu loi ihc low siaius gious. Ioi all
ihicc mcasuics ol ambivalcncc, coiiclaiions bciwccn
ciccivcu lcgiiimacy anu ingiou ambivalcncc uillcicu
icliably bciwccn low siaius anu high siaius gious.
]osi, Buigcss / AMBIVAIENCE AND SYSTEM ]USTIIICATION 299
TABLE 1: Means (and standard deviations) on Ambivalence To-
ward the Ingroup Among Low and High Status Groups
(Study 1)
1o. HII DIe.ere
Suu: Suu: (i e:)
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou SIM) 2.2 3.04) 1.47 2.76) -2.07**
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou CRM) .49 1.76) 4.79 1.6) -2.37**
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou GTM) 7.S7 1.44) 7.23 1.7S) -2.2**
NOTE: SIM Similaiiiy Inicnsiiy Moucl, CRM Conlliciing Rcaciions
Moucl, anu GTM Giauual Thicsholu Moucl.
** .0.
TABLE 2: Means (and standard deviations) on Ambivalence To-
ward the Ingroup Among Low and High Status Groups
for Relevant and Irrelevant Attributes (Study 1)
1o. HII DIe.ere
Suu: Suu: (i e:)
Siaius-iclcvani aiiiibuics
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou SIM) 3.31 3.2) 1.7 3.37) -3.00***
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou CRM) .9S 1.93) 4.93 2.01) -3.04***
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou GTM) 7.9 1.77) 6.92 2.36) -2.79***
Siaius-iiiclcvani aiiiibuics
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou SIM) 1.72 3.4) 1.36 2.S7) -.64
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou CRM) .01 2.03) 4.6 1.71) -1.11
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou GTM) 7.17 1.96) 6.S6 2.01) -.92
NOTE: SIM Similaiiiy Inicnsiiy Moucl, CRM Conlliciing Rcaciions
Moucl, anu GTM Giauual Thicsholu Moucl.
*** .01.
TABLE 3: Correlations Between Perceived Legitimacy and Atti-
tudes Toward the Ingroup Among Low and High Status
Groups (Study 1)
Co..eIuIor VII 1o. HII DIe.ere
Pe.eI.en 1eIIu, Suu: Suu: (Z :o.e)
Rclcvani anu iiiclcvani
aiiiibuics combincu
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou SIM) .32**** -.20 -2.99****
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou CRM) .22 -.16 -2.1**
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou GTM) .24** -.13 -2.10**
Siaius-iclcvani aiiiibuics
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou SIM) .40**** -.17 -2.94****
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou CRM) .31** -.1 -2.61**
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou GTM) .32** -.14 -2.64**
Siaius-iiiclcvani aiiiibuics
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou SIM) .19 -.1S -2.06**
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou CRM) .0S -.13 -1.21
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
ingiou GTM) .12 -.0S -1.12
NOTE: SIM Similaiiiy Inicnsiiy Moucl, CRM Conlliciing Rcaciions
Moucl, anu GTM Giauual Thicsholu Moucl. Z scoic uillcicncc icsis
aic iwo-iailcu.
** .0. **** .00.
Examining iclcvani anu iiiclcvani iiaiis scaiaicly, ii
acais ihai ihc abovc aiicins aic again siiongci loi
siaius-iclcvani ihan loi siaius-iiiclcvani aiiiibuics. As
can bc sccn in Tablc 3, ihc uillcicnccs in coiiclaiions
bciwccn high anu low siaius gious aiiain siaiisiical sig-
nilicancc loi all ihicc ol ihc ambivalcncc mcasuics wiih
icscci io iclcvani aiiiibuics. Ioi iiiclcvani aiiiibuics,
only onc ol ihc ihicc comaiisons is siaiisiically
signilicani.
All ol ihcsc linuings suoii ihc noiionihai lowsiaius
giou mcmbcis aic laccu wiih a sychological conllici
bciwccn giou anu sysicm usiilicaiion moiivcs anu ihai
ihc siicngih ol ihis conllici is associaicu wiih incicascu
iucological accciancc ol ihc siaius quo. Ioi mcmbcis ol
high siaius gious, howcvci, ingiou ambivalcncc was
lounu io iclaic ncgaiivcly albcii nonsignilicanily) io
ciccivcu lcgiiimacy ol ihc sociocconomic uillcicnccs.
Thus, as icuicicu, ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc ingiou was
associaicu wiih gicaici sysicm usiilicaiion among mcm-
bcis ol lowsiaius gious, anu ii was associaicu wiih lcssci
sysicm usiilicaiion among mcmbcis ol high siaius
gious. Thcsc cllccis wcic siiongci on siaius-iclcvani
uimcnsions ihan on siaius-iiiclcvani uimcnsions.
1r.ou u.o.II:. To iucniily ihc cllccis ol ingiou
siaius, ciccivcu lcgiiimacy, anu aiiiibuic iclcvancc on
ingiou lavoiiiism, a 2 high vs. low ingiou siaius) 2
high vs. low ciccivcu lcgiiimacy) 2 iclcvani vs.
iiiclcvani aiiiibuics) mixcu-ucsign analysis ol vaiiancc
was conuucicu, wiih iccaicu mcasuics on ihc lasi lac-
ioi. A mcuian slii was ciloimcu on ciccivcu lcgiii-
macy scoics Anr S.67) io cicaic a caicgoiical vaiiablc
loi ihis analysis. Thc icsuliing analysis yiclucu a mai-
ginal iniciaciion bciwccn ingiou siaius anu ciccivcu
lcgiiimacy, a icliablc main cllcci uuc io aiiiibuic iclc-
vancc, anua icliablc iniciaciioninvolving ingiousiaius
anu aiiiibuic iclcvancc.
Rcgaiulcss ol aiiiibuic iclcvancc, ingiou siaius
iniciacicu wiih ciccivcu lcgiiimacy io icuici ingiou
lavoiiiism in gcncial, F1, 120) 3.6S, .06, as ic-
uicicuonihc basis ol sysicmusiilicaiionihcoiy scc also
]osi, in icss). Whcn ciccivcu lcgiiimacy is high, mcm-
bcis ol high siaius gious cxhibii gicaici ingiou lavoi-
iiism A .S9) ihan uo mcmbcis ol low siaius gious,
who cxhibii ouigiou lavoiiiismA -.60), a uillcicncc
ihai is highly icliablc, F1, 6) 11.0, .001. Whcn
ciccivcu lcgiiimacy is low, howcvci, ihcic is no uillci-
cncc bciwccn high A .36) anu low A .40) siaius
gious in icims ol ingiou anu ouigiou lavoiiiism F
1). Coiiclaiional analyscs inuicaic ihai loi mcmbcis ol
low siaius gious, ciccivcu lcgiiimacy is iclaicu ncga-
iivcly io ingiou lavoiiiismon boih iclcvani . -.36,
.01) anu iiiclcvani . -.32, .0) aiiiibuics. Ioi mcm-
bcis ol highsiaius gious, ciccivculcgiiimacy is iclaicu
osiiivcly io ingiou lavoiiiism, alihough ihc coiicla-
iion icachcs signilicancc loi iiiclcvani aiiiibuics .
.2, .0) bui noi loi iclcvani aiiiibuics . .1S, r:).
Amaincllcci ol aiiiibuic iclcvancc was obiaincu, F1,
120) 2S.72, .001, inuicaiing ihai ingiou lavoiiiism
was gicaici oniiiclcvani A .96) ihanoniclcvani A
-.2) aiiiibuics. This was qualilicu by a signilicani inici-
aciion bciwccn aiiiibuic iclcvancc anu ingiou siaius,
F1, 120) 2.73, .001. In accoiuancc wiih cxccia-
iions uciivculiomsocial iucniiiy ihcoiy, mcmbcis ol low
siaius gious showcu siiong ouigiou lavoiiiism on
aiiiibuics ihai wcic consiucicu iclcvani io ihc siaius uil-
lcicnccs A -1.20) anu siiong ingiou lavoiiiism on
aiiiibuics ihai wcic consiucicu iiiclcvani A 1.33), a
uillcicncc ihai was lounu io bc highly icliablc, F1, S)
40.19, .001. Howcvci, mcmbcis ol high siaius gious
uiunoi showgicaici ingioulavoiiiismoniclcvani A
.4) comaicu io iiiclcvani A .63) aiiiibuics F
1), as also has bccn suggcsicu c.g., van Knicnbcig,
197S).
DISCUSSION
In a liisi siuuy, ii was ucmonsiiaicu ihai an cxcii-
mcnial maniulaiion ol sociocconomic succcss lcaus
mcmbcis ol a ical-woilu giou io uislay gicaici
ingiou ambivalcncc whcn ihcii giou occuics a icla-
iivcly low siaius osiiion comaicu wiih a iclaiivcly high
siaius osiiion. Iuiihcimoic, ciccivcu lcgiiimacy ol
ihc siaius uillcicnccs was iclaicu osiiivcly io ingiou
ambivalcncc loi mcmbcis ol low siaius gious bui ii was
iclaicu ncgaiivcly io ingiou ambivalcncc loi mcmbcis
ol high siaius gious. Thcsc cllccis wcic siiongci loi
siaius-iclcvani ihan siaius-iiiclcvani uimcnsions ol com-
aiison. Mcmbcis ol low siaius gious cxhibiicu oui-
giou lavoiiiism on iclcvani aiiiibuics anu ingiou
lavoiiiism on iiiclcvani aiiiibuics, whcicas mcmbcis ol
high siaius gious cxhibiicu ingiou lavoiiiism on boih
iycs ol aiiiibuics. Pcicciions ol lcgiiimacy also
incicascu ihc uiscicancy bciwccn high anu low siaius
gious in icims ol ingiou vcisus ouigiou lavoiiiism.
STUDY 2
To luiihci cxloic ihc conncciion bciwccn giou
siaius anu aiiiiuuinal ambivalcncc, a sccnaiio siuuy was
conuucicu in which mcn anu womcn wcic aslcu aboui
ihcii osiiivc anu ncgaiivc lcclings iowaiu a lcmalc
lainiill who was launching a gcnuci uisciiminaiion law-
suii againsi hci univcisiiy. Ii was hyoihcsizcu ihai
sysicm-usiilying vaiiablcs such as bclicl in a usi woilu
anu social uominancc oiicniaiion woulu bc osiiivcly
iclaicu io ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc lcmalc iaigci cison
among womcn anu ncgaiivcly iclaicu io ambivalcncc
among mcn. Thus, Siuuy 2 mauc usc ol iccxisiing
300 PERSONAIITY AND SOCIAI PSYCHOIOGY BUIIETIN
siaius uillcicnccs bciwccn mcn anu womcn anu chionic
iucological bclicls aboui sysicm usiilicaiion.
O.e..Ie.
Malc anu lcmalc aiiicianis icccivcu an cxciimcn-
ial boollci ihai coniaincu a) a covci shcci ucsciibing
ihc osicnsiblc uiosc ol ihc siuuy, which was io suivcy
collcgc siuucnis aboui ihc univcisiiy cxciicncc`, b) a
liciional ncwsaci aiiiclc ihai ucsciibcu a lcmalc
unucigiauuaic who was suing hci univcisiiy loi gcnuci
uisciiminaiion, c) mcasuics ol osiiivc anu ncgaiivc
lcclings iowaiu ihc lcmalc lainiill liom which ambiva-
lcncc coulu bc calculaicu, u) mcasuics ol lcclings
iowaiu ihc univcisiiy liom which ambivalcncc iowaiu
ihc sysicm coulu bc calculaicu, anu c) ihc Social Domi-
nancc Oiicniaiion scalc Piaiio ci al., 1994) anu ihc
Bclicl in a ]usi Woilu scalc Rubin 8Pclau, 197), boih
ol which scivcu as inuiviuual uillcicncc mcasuics ol sys-
icm usiilicaiion.
METHOD
Pu.IIur:
Scvcniy-ninc unucigiauuaic siuucnis 1 womcnanu
2S mcn) ai ihc Univcisiiy ol Minncsoia voluniccicu loi
ihc cxciimcni in cxchangc loi cxiia cicuii in ihcii
iniiouucioiy sychology couisc.
P.oenu.e
Seru.Io. Paiiicianis wcic icscnicu wiih a biicl
ncwsaci sioiy aboui a woman namcu Ann who was
suing hci univcisiiy loi gcnuci uisciiminaiion bascu on
ihc laci ihai shc was ucnicu accciancc inio an honois
iogiam. Thc lainiill was ucsciibcu as a siiong canui-
uaic who was bciici ihan avciagc on somc uimcnsions
anu bclow avciagc on oihci uimcnsions. Accoiuing io
ihc sioiy, Ann hau bccn iolu by ihc auminisiiaiion ihai,
alihough hci vcibal Scholasiic Aiiiuuc Tcsi SAT)
scoics wcic highci ihan ihc avciagc siuucni in ihc io-
giam, hci maih SAT scoics wcic signilicanily lowci ihan
ihosc ol oihci honois siuucnis. Alici uiscovciing ihai
mcn wcic acccicu io ihc honois iogiam ai a iaic ihai
was much highci 1S%) ihan ihc iaic loi womcn %),
Ann conlionicu ihc iogiam uiiccioi wiih ihcsc siaiis-
iics. Thc iogiam uiiccioi`s icsonsc was ihai ihc uis-
cicancy in accciancc iaics icllccicu uillcicnccs in
aciual qualilicaiions. This icsonsc was ciccivcu as
unsaiislacioiy io Ann anu ii iomicu hci io sccl lcgal
aciion againsi ihc univcisiiy in an clloii io gain accc-
iancc inio ihc honois iogiam.
A!I.uIere o.u.n Ie euIe IuIrI. Paiiicianis wcic
aslcu io answci scvcnqucsiions aboui osiiivc anu ncga-
iivc lcclings iowaiu ihc lcmalc lainiill. An inucx ol
osiiivc lcclings iowaiu ihc lainiill .94) was
cicaicu by avciaging icsonscs io ihc lollowing loui
iicms: I icscci Ann loi suing ihc univcisiiy,` I lccl su-
oiiivc ol Ann,` I lccl iouu ol Ann,` anu I lccl bau loi
Ann.` An inucx ol ncgaiivc lcclings .S9) was cicaicu
by avciaging ihc lollowing ihicc iicms: I lccl angiy ai
Ann loi chaiging ihc univcisiiy wiih uisciiminaiion,` I
lccl ihai Ann has bccn unlaii io ihc univcisiiy,` anu I
lccl ashamcu ol Ann.` All uugmcnis wcic mauc on iai-
ing scalcs ianging liom0 ro u uII) io 6 u .eu uour).
Thc samc ihicc mcasuics ol ambivalcncc SIM, CRM,
GTM) uscu in Siuuy 1 wcic comuicu liom ihc inuiccs
ol osiiivc anu ncgaiivc lcclings iowaiu ihc lainiill.
A!I.uIere o.u.n Ie urI.e.:I, :,:e. In auuiiion io
mcasuiing ambivalcncc iowaiu Ann, ambivalcncc
iowaiu ihc univcisiiy sysicm also was mcasuicu. Paiiici-
anis icsonucu io scvcn qucsiions aboui ihcii lcclings
iowaiu ihc laigci sysicm-inihis casc, ihc univcisiiy ihai
was ihc iaigci ol ihc lawsuii. An inucx ol osiiivc lcclings
iowaiu ihc univcisiiy .S2) was cicaicu by avciaging
icsonscs ioihc lollowing loui iicms: I lccl iouuol ihc
univcisiiy loi sianuing iis giounu,` I lccl bauloi ihc uni-
vcisiiy loi having io conicnu wiih yci anoihci lawsuii,` I
lccl ihai ihc univcisiiy hau bccn quiic laii,` anu I lccl
bau loi univcisiiy siuucnis who will havc io ay ihc iicc
loi ihis lawsuii.` An inucx ol ncgaiivc lcclings .92)
was cicaicu by avciaging ihc lollowing ihicc iicms: I
lccl angiy ai ihc univcisiiy loi uisciiminaiing againsi
womcn,` I lccl uisaoinicu ai ihc univcisiiy,` anu I
lccl ashamcu ol ihc univcisiiy.` Raiings wcic again mauc
on scalcs ianging liom 0 ro u uII) io 6 u .eu uour),
anu ambivalcncc scoics wcic calculaicu by iccouing
osiiivc anuncgaiivc cmoiional icaciions iniouominani
anu conlliciing icsonscs anu ihcn lollowing ihc cqua-
iions lisicu in ihc Mcihou scciion loi Siuuy 1.
O.e.uII e.uIuuIor o Ie euIe IuIrI. Ovciall aiii-
iuucs iowaiu ihc lcmalc lainiill wcic comuicu by sub-
iiaciing loi cach aiiiciani ihc mcan scoic on ihc
inucx ol ncgaiivc lcclings iowaiu ihc lainiill liom ihc
mcan scoic on ihc inucx ol osiiivc lcclings.
O.e.uII e.uIuuIor o Ie urI.e.:I, :,:e. Aiiiiuucs
iowaiu ihc univcisiiy sysicm wcic lilcwisc comuicu by
subiiaciing scoics on ihc inucx ol ncgaiivc lcclings
iowaiuihc univcisiiy liomscoics onihc inucx ol osiiivc
lcclings.
RESUITS
A!I.uIere o.u.nIe euIe IuIrI. As inSiuuy 1, aiii-
iuuinal ambivalcncc was calculaicu using ihc SIM, ihc
CRM, anu ihc GTM. Ambivalcncc uiiccicu ai ihc lcmalc
lainiill was slighily highci among womcn As -.3,
2.04, anu 4.22, icscciivcly) ihan among mcn As
-1.10, 1.66, anu 3.63, icscciivcly) loi all ihicc
]osi, Buigcss / AMBIVAIENCE AND SYSTEM ]USTIIICATION 301
mcasuics, bui nonc ol ihc gcnuci uillcicnccs icachcu
convcniional lcvcls ol siaiisiical signilicancc.
As hyoihcsizcu, all ihicc mcasuics ol ambivalcncc
wcic lounu io coiiclaic osiiivcly wiih social uominancc
oiicniaiion among womcn, anu ihcy wcic lounu io coi-
iclaic ncgaiivcly wiih social uominancc oiicniaiion
among mcnscc iool Tablc 4). Inall cascs, coiiclaiions
bciwccn social uominancc oiicniaiion anu ambivalcncc
iowaiu ihc lcmalc lainiill uillcicu icliably accoiuing io
gcnuci ol ihc icsonucni. Womcn who wcic high in
social uominancc oiicniaiion wcic moic lilcly io
cxicss ambivalcncc iowaiu Ann, whcicas mcn who
wcic high in social uominancc oiicniaiion wcic lcss
lilcly io cxicss ambivalcncc iowaiu hci. Thcic was no
icliablc uillcicncc bciwccn mcn anu womcn in icims ol
ihc coiiclaiion bciwccn social uominancc oiicniaiion
anu ihc ovciall cvaluaiion ol Ann. As in Siuuy 1, ihis sug-
gcsis ihai aiiiiuuinal ambivalcncc may bc a moic subilc
mcasuic ihan cvaluaiion ci sc, anu ii may bc moic
icsonsivc io sychological conllicis bciwccn giou anu
sysicm usiilicaiion moiivcs.
Paiallcling ihc icsulis wiih icgaiu io social uomi-
nancc oiicniaiion, ihcic also wcic uillcicnccs bciwccn
mcn anu womcn in icims ol ihc associaiion bciwccn usi
woilu bclicls anu aiiiiuuinal ambivalcncc. In aiiiculai,
loi womcn, ihcic wcic signilicani osiiivc coiiclaiions
bciwccn ihc bclicl in a usi woilu anu all ihicc mcasuics
ol ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc lcmalc lainiill scc boiiom
ol Tablc 4). Ioi mcn, coiiclaiions bciwccnihc bclicl ina
usi woilu anu ambivalcncc iowaiu Ann aioachcu 0.
In all cascs, icsis ol uillcicnccs bciwccn womcn anu mcn
wiih icgaiu io coiiclaiions bciwccn usi woilu bclicls
anu aiiiiuuinal ambivalcncc aiiaincu siaiisiical signili-
cancc. As wiih social uominancc oiicniaiion, no gcnuci
cllccis wcic obscivcu wiih icgaiu io coiiclaiions
bciwccn bclicl in a usi woilu anu global cvaluaiions ol
ihc lainiill. Iuiuic icscaich mighi uo wcll io lollow u
on ihc laci ihai social uominancc oiicniaiion was a sig-
nilicani icuicioi ol ihc aiiiiuucs ol mcn bui noi
womcn, whcicas ihc bclicl ina usi woiluwas lounuio bc
a signilicani icuicioi ol ihc aiiiiuucs ol womcn bui noi
mcn scc Tablc 4).
A!I.uIere o.u.n Ie urI.e.:I, :,:e. Ambivalcncc
iowaiu ihc sysicm was lounu io bc signilicanily highci
among womcn ihan among mcn loi all ihicc mcasuics:
a) loi SIM, womcn wcic moic ambivalcni A 2.20)
ihan mcn A .23), 77) -2.4, .0, b) loi CRM,
womcn wcic moic ambivalcni A 3.S0) ihan mcn A
2.S), 77) -2.16, .0, anu c) loi GTM, womcn
wcic moic ambivalcni A 6.) ihan mcn A 4.62),
77) -2.S, > .0. Thus, ii sccms ihai whcnuiiccicuio
ihinl aboui ihc sysicmihai is icsonsiblc loi gcnuci inc-
qualiiy, womcn bui noi mcn aic ullcu by coniiauicioiy
loiccs ol giou usiilicaiion anu sysicm usiilicaiion.
Whcn onc invcsiigaics ihc iclaiion bciwccn social
uominancc oiicniaiion anu ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc sys-
icm, gcnuci uillcicnccs again cmcigc. Ioi mcn, ihcic
aic signilicani ncgaiivc coiiclaiions bciwccn social
uominancc oiicniaiion anu all ihicc mcasuics ol
ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc sysicm scc Tablc ) such ihai
highci social uominancc scoics aic associaicu wiih lcss
ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc univcisiiy auminisiiaiion ihai is
bcing chaigcu wiih scxism. Ioi womcn, ihcsc coiicla-
iions aic osiiivc bui nonsignilicani. Dillcicnccs
bciwccn mcn anu womcn in icims ol ihc naiuic ol ihc
associaiion bciwccn social uominancc oiicniaiion anu
ambivalcncc iowaiuihc sysicmaiiaincusiaiisiical signili-
cancc loi all ihicc mcasuics ol ambivalcncc, suggcsiing
again ihai giou usiilicaiion anu sysicm usiilicaiion
moiivcs woil uillcicnily loi high siaius anu low siaius
giou mcmbcis. Thc bclicl in a usi woilu was noi associ-
aicu wiih ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc univcisiiy auminisiia-
iion, lausibly bccausc iicms on ihc scalc locus moic on
aiiiibuiions loi inuiviuual-lcvcl ouicomcs ihan wiih sys-
icmic laciois ci sc.
GENERAI DISCUSSION
Ioi uccaucs, icscaich in social scicncc has auuicsscu
ihc ciicumsianccs in which mcmbcis ol low siaius
gious linuihcmsclvcs c.g., Alloii, 194/19S, Icwin,
302 PERSONAIITY AND SOCIAI PSYCHOIOGY BUIIETIN
TABLE 4: Correlations Between System ]ustification Variables and
Attitudes Toward the Female Plaintiff Among Women
and Men (Study 2)
DIe.ere
Voer Aer (Z :o.e)
Coiiclaiion wiih social
uominancc oiicniaiion
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
lcmalc lainiill SIM) .23 -.39** -2.6**
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
lcmalc lainiill CRM) .23 -.41** -2.72**
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
lcmalc lainiill GTM) .21 -.2** -3.17****
Ovciall cvaluaiion ol
lcmalc lainiill -.23 -.44** -.96
Coiiclaiion wiih usi
woilu bclicls
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
lcmalc lainiill SIM) .44**** .00 -1.92*
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
lcmalc lainiill CRM) .34** -.02 -2.26**
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
lcmalc lainiill GTM) .36** -.07 -1.S1*
Ovciall cvaluaiion ol
lcmalc lainiill -.20 -.20 0
NOTE: SIM Similaiiiy Inicnsiiy Moucl, CRM Conlliciing Rcaciions
Moucl, anu GTM Giauual Thicsholu Moucl. Z scoic uillcicncc icsis
aic iwo-iailcu.
* .10. ** .0. **** .00.
1941, Sainoll, 191). Onc iiauiiion ol icscaich suggcsis
ihai such gious cannoi hcl bui inicinalizc sociciy`s
unlavoiablc imagcs ol ihcm c.g., Clail 8 Clail, 1947,
Iinc 8 Bowcis, 19S4, McNaughi, 19SS, Sniuciman 8
Piazza, 1993). Thc sysicm usiilicaiion ciscciivc io-
oscs ihai mcmbcis ol uisauvaniagcu gious ai iimcs
cvcn ciloim iucological woil on bchall ol ihc sysicm,
iaiionalizing incqualiiy ai ihc cxcnsc ol cisonal anu
giou inicicsis c.g., ]osi, in icss, ]osi 8 Banai, 1994).
A scconu, comlcmcniaiy iiauiiion ol icscaich suggcsis
ihai mcmbcis ol low siaius gious linu ncw anu cicaiivc
ways ol maximizing lavoiablc ingiouimagcs anuiucnii-
licaiions ucsiic ihc imaci ol social siigma c.g.,
Ellcmcis ci al., 1993, Scais 8 Mansicau, 19S9, Talcl 8
Tuinci, 19S6).
An inicgiaiion ol ihcsc uisiinci ihcoiciical ciscc-
iivcs lcaus io ihc suosiiion ihai mcmbcis ol low siaius
gious aic laccu wiih a sychological conllici bciwccn
incomaiiblc moiivcs io accci ihc lcgiiimacy ol ihc
siaius quo anu io cngagc in sysicm usiilicaiion, on onc
hanu, anuiocomcnsaic loi a oicniially ncgaiivc social
iucniiiy by uislaying ingiou lavoiiiism anu oihci
giou usiilying bchaviois, on ihc oihci hanu. Woil by
]osi anu Thomson 199S) suoiis ihc noiion ihai
giou anu sysicm usiilicaiion icnucncics aic lcss com-
aiiblc loi mcmbcis ol low siaius ihan high siaius
gious. Thc siuuics icoiicu hcic cxicnu ihcsc obsciva-
iions in scvcial ways.
Iiisi, ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc ingiou was lounu io
bc highci loi mcmbcis ol low siaius ihan high siaius
gious in Siuuy 1, csccially on siaius-iclcvani uimcn-
sions ol comaiison. Moic imoiiani, ingiou ambiva-
lcncc on ihc aii ol lowsiaius gious was associaicu wiih
gicaici sysicm usiilicaiion, as ociaiionalizcu by ci-
ccivcu lcgiiimacy in Siuuy 1 anu as ihc bclicl in a usi
woilu anu social uominancc oiicniaiion in Siuuy 2.
Obviously, ihcic aic limiiaiions ihai aic iniiinsic io coi-
iclaiional ucsigns. Iuiuic icscaich woulu uo wcll io clai-
ily whcihci ambivalcncc iowaiu ihc ingiou causcs an
incicasc in sysicm-usiilying icsonscs oi, convciscly,
whcihci ingiou ambivalcncc is causcu by sysicm usiili-
caiion. Thc inuiviuual uillcicncc mcasuics cmloycu in
Siuuy 2 sccm io suoii ihc laiici ossibiliiy, bui boih
uiicciions ol causaliiy aic lausiblc anu cxciimcnial
ucsigns woulubc icquiicuioasscss ihcminuccnucnily.
Scconu, siiong cviucncc was obiaincu in Siuuy 1 loi
ihc noiion ihai mcmbcis ol low siaius gious cxhibii
ouigiou lavoiiiism on iclcvani uimcnsions ol iniclli-
gcncc, inuusiiiousncss, anu vcibal icasoning abiliiics
anu ihcy cxhibii ingiou lavoiiiismoniiiclcvani uimcn-
sions ol honcsiy, liicnulincss, anu inicicsiingncss. Thcsc
icsulis buiiicss ihcoiciical anu cmiiical aigumcnis
mauc by social iucniiiy ihcoiisis ovci ihc ycais inici
alia, Mullcnci al., 1992, Slcvingion, 19S1, Scais 8Man-
sicau, 19S9, Talcl 8 Tuinci, 19S6, van Knicnbcig,
197S). Thus, onc way in which uisauvaniagcu giou
mcmbcis may aiicmi io icconcilc giouanusysicmus-
iilicaiion nccus is by accciing anu cvcn cmbiacing)
siaius incqualiiy anu by ialing solacc in ihc bclicl ihai
ihcy aic auvaniagcu in oihci ways c.g., Ianc, 1962).
Oihci linuings liom ihc icscni sci ol siuuics hcl io
claboiaic anu iclinc whcn mcmbcis ol low siaius gious
will suoii ihc siaius sysicm by uislaying ouigiou
lavoiiiism anu whcn ihcy will iccci ii by uislaying
ingiou lavoiiiism. Pciccivcu lcgiiimacy acais io bc a
ciucial vaiiablc, as suggcsicu by iioi icscaich in ihc
social iucniiiy iiauiiion c.g., Ellcmcis ci al., 1993,
Tuinci 8 Biown, 197S). Thc siuuics icoiicu hcic
cxicnu cailici insighis in ihai ihcy auuicss gcncial iuco-
logical cicciions conccining ihc sysicmic laiincss, us-
iiliabiliiy, anu lcgiiimacy ol sociocconomic uillcicnccs
bciwccn gious as ooscu io ihc lcgiiimacy ol inuiviu-
ual auihoiiiy liguics) anu in ihai ihcy aly cicciions
ol lcgiiimacy io cvaluaiivc bclicls aboui ihc chaiaciciis-
iics ol ingiou anu ouigiou mcmbcis anu io ihc hc-
nomcnon ol ingiou ambivalcncc.
Thc icscni icscaich auvanccs lnowlcugc conccin-
ing ihc sychology ol lcgiiimacy anu iis iclaiion io inici-
giou iclaiions c.g., Maoi, 1994, Tylci, 1997) in scvcial
oihci ways as wcll. Siuuy 1 ucmonsiiaicu ihai cicc-
iions ol lcgiiimacy incicasc ingiou lavoiiiism anu
uccicasc ingiou ambivalcncc among mcmbcis ol high
siaius gious bui uccicasc ingiou lavoiiiism anu
incicasc ingiou ambivalcncc among mcmbcis ol low
siaius gious. Siuuy 2 ucmonsiiaicu ihai inuiviuual uil-
lcicncc vaiiablcs ihai aic iclaicu io iucological icnucn-
cics iolcgiiimizc social aiiangcmcnis aic alsosiiong ic-
uiciois ol ambivalcni aiiiiuucs iowaiu ingiou mcmbcis
who osc ihicais io ihc social sysicm, whichis ihc linu ol
siiuaiioninwhichgiou anu sysicmusiilicaiionmoiivcs
mighi bc cxccicu io conllici.
]osi, Buigcss / AMBIVAIENCE AND SYSTEM ]USTIIICATION 303
TABLE : Correlations Between Social Dominance Orientation and
Attitudes Toward the System Among Women and Men
(Study 2)
Co..eIuIor VII SoIuI DIe.ere
DoIrure O.IeruIor Voer Aer (Z :o.e)
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
sysicm SIM) .14 -.39** -2.26**
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
lcmalc lainiill CRM) .10 -.39** -2.06**
Ambivalcncc iowaiu
lcmalc lainiill GTM) .0 -.1*** -2.47**
Ovciall cvaluaiion ol sysicm .12 .3S 1.13
NOTE: SIM Similaiiiy Inicnsiiy Moucl, CRM Conlliciing Rcaciions
Moucl, anu GTM Giauual Thicsholu Moucl. Z scoic uillcicncc icsis
aic iwo-iailcu.
** .0. *** .01.
Piioi cviucncc inuicaics ihai aiiiiuuinal ambivalcncc
icsulis in a olaiizaiion ol uugmcnis so ihai ambiva-
lcncc iowaiu lcllow ingiou mcmbcis mighi wcll mani-
lcsi iiscll in icims ol iclcicniial iicaimcni as wcll as
scacgoaiing anu uisciiminaiion. Ioi cxamlc, colc
who holu ambivalcni aiiiiuucs iowaiu womcn havc bccn
shown io cvaluaic ihcmin ways ihai aic alicinaicly iucal-
izing anu ucmonizing Glicl 8Iislc, 1996). Ambivalcni
aiiiiuucs also lcau io whai Kaiz 19S1) iclciicu io as
icsonsc amlilicaiion.` Racial ambivalcncc laciliiaics
ihc scacgoaiing ol somc Aliican Amciican iaigcis anu
vciy lavoiablc cvaluaiions ol oihci AliicanAmciicaniai-
gcis Gaciinci 8 Doviuio, 19S6, Hass ci al., 1991).
Accoiuing io Kaiz 19S1), icsonsc amlilicaiion scivcs
ihc lunciion ol icuucing ihc cogniiivc uissonancc oi
iniiasychic conllici ihai occuis whcn boih osiiivc anu
ncgaiivc comoncnis ol ambivalcni aiiiiuucs aic acii-
vaicu. Amlilying ciihci ihc osiiivc oi ihc ncgaiivc
icsonsc io ihc iaigci cnablcs ihc ciccivci io icsolvc
ihc icmoiaiy conllici causcu by ihc ambivalcncc.
Iiom ihc ciscciivc ol sysicm usiilicaiion ihcoiy,
aiiiiuuinal ambivalcncc anu icsonsc amlilicaiion
uiiccicu ai mcmbcis ol low siaius gious may sicm liom
conllicis among cgo usiilicaiion, giou usiilicaiion,
anu sysicm usiilicaiion moiivcs. Ioi cxamlc, ihc moii-
vaiion io uholu a lavoiablc scll-imagc as an unicu-
uiccu cison cgo usiilicaiion) may conllici wiih ihc
ucsiic io imiovc ihc siaius oi ouicomcs ol lcllow
ingiou mcmbcis giou usiilicaiion), which may oi
may noi conllici wiih ihc moiivaiion io bclicvc ihai ihc
siaius quo is laii anu usi sysicmusiilicaiion). Alihough
icscaich on ihc signilicancc ol ihcsc conllicis is siill ai a
iclaiivcly caily siagc, ii sccms lilcly ihai ihcic aic consc-
qucnccs ai ihc lcvcl ol ihc social sysicm in auuiiion io
conscqucnccs ai ihc inuiviuual anu giou lcvcls ol analy-
sis. Psychological conllicis among cgo, giou, anu sys-
icmusiilicaiion moiivcs iobably scivc io inhibii mcan-
inglul social changc, in auuiiion io iouucing cogniiivc
uissonancc in inuiviuuals anu uccicasing soliuaiiiy in
gious, insolai as such conllicis icnuci colc lcss caa-
blc ol ialing clcai anu uiicci aciion againsi ihc souiccs
ol incqualiiy in sociciy.
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]osi, Buigcss / AMBIVAIENCE AND SYSTEM ]USTIIICATION 30