FILE SELECTED // FILE 00
System Justification
“A familiar institution may look legitimate even to people who receive less from it.”
01 / SUMMARY
In short
System justification theory proposes motives and processes that support existing arrangements beyond personal and group interest. Its scope, measurement, and some predictions remain disputed.
03 / SCENE
In the wild
Someone treats persistent inequality as proof of merit because assuming fair rules reduces uncertainty.
04 / LIMIT
The limit
It does not license a “false consciousness” diagnosis or imply that disadvantaged people always support the system.
FINAL NOTE
What remains
Test the legitimizing account against evidence about rules, alternatives, and the distribution of outcomes.