The main purpose of the current doctoral dissertation was to contribute to the research on the socio-psychological mechanisms that legitimize social inequalities. In particular, the relationship between psychological distance and system justification was examined through the lens of Construal Level Theory (e.g., Trope & Liberman, 2010). We hypothesized that the fundamental motivations of individuals to defend their interests, their group, and the status quo would vary with psychological distance. Study 1 and 2 investigated the moderating effect of construal level on the relationship between membership in different status groups (defined by income and gender) and system justification (in economic and gender inequality, respectively). Study 3 expanded the results by examining the influence of construal level on the extent to which individuals with opposing political ideologies justify the system. Finally, Study 4 deepened the results by comparing the impact of a self-related threat to that of a system-related threat as a function of construal level. Overall, the results suggest that psychological distance may be a crucial element in resolving the conflict between ego, group, and system justifications. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Psychological distance and system justification: status- and political ideology-related differences in the legitimization of inequality as a function of construal level

Scarci, Federica
2023

Abstract

The main purpose of the current doctoral dissertation was to contribute to the research on the socio-psychological mechanisms that legitimize social inequalities. In particular, the relationship between psychological distance and system justification was examined through the lens of Construal Level Theory (e.g., Trope & Liberman, 2010). We hypothesized that the fundamental motivations of individuals to defend their interests, their group, and the status quo would vary with psychological distance. Study 1 and 2 investigated the moderating effect of construal level on the relationship between membership in different status groups (defined by income and gender) and system justification (in economic and gender inequality, respectively). Study 3 expanded the results by examining the influence of construal level on the extent to which individuals with opposing political ideologies justify the system. Finally, Study 4 deepened the results by comparing the impact of a self-related threat to that of a system-related threat as a function of construal level. Overall, the results suggest that psychological distance may be a crucial element in resolving the conflict between ego, group, and system justifications. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.
20-gen-2023
Inglese
Psychological distance; system justification; construal level theory; economic inequality; gender inequality
GIACOMANTONIO, Mauro
LIVI, Stefano
BENVENUTO, Guido
Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza"
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14242/87571
Il codice NBN di questa tesi è URN:NBN:IT:UNIROMA1-87571