Challenging the Status Quo: System Justification Theory and Impressions of Activists

Challenges to the societal status quo often garner partisan support along two sides: people who are for a cause and people who are against it. System justification motivations (SJM) serve as critical underlying factors in the maintenance of our current social system and the reception of challenges to the status quo (e.g., Jost & Banaji, 1994; Jost, Banaji, & Nosek, 2004). The current research built upon this understanding by investigating the influence of system justification motivation on the formation of impressions of sociopolitical activists. Our results indicated that under systemic challenge, the impression of the activist target was not significantly different from the non-activist target. However, when the system was affirmed, a strong positive impression of the activist target as was formed along an adventurous/reckless trait dimension, and the activist was also seen as more adventurous than non-activists in affirmation conditions. This work holds important implications for activists, suggesting that in contexts where the system they are working within is regarded positively, system challenging activists will be received in a positive manner. These results could directly impact how parties effectively communicate their stances in order to be heard by those that have opposing views.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Spruill, Mikaela

• Person Perception

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/90727

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/90727