Doctoral Dissertation Research: The Role of Self-Evaluations in Legitimizing Inequality

SES-0623109布伦特·辛普森苏珊娜·萨特芬这项研究解决了社会科学中一个长期存在的谜题：为什么分层的社会制度被认为是合法的(事情应该是这样的)，无论是那些处于有利地位的人还是处于不利地位的人都认为它是合法的？这项拟议的研究建立在自我评估理论的基础上，以解释不平等的合法性。这一领域以前的研究尚未创造出处境不利的行为者将其较低水平的资源视为公平和合法的情况。这一项目将使人们更清楚地了解社会心理机制，通过这些机制，现有的分层制度逐渐被受其支配的人接受为权利。这项拟议的研究包括两个实验。在这两个项目中，大学本科生将被招募，在分层结构中就有价值的资源进行谈判。第一个实验考察了结构位置(高与低)对自我评价的影响。它涉及行为者是否制定与其结构力量(以及由此产生的奖励水平)相一致的自我评估。第二个实验探讨了自我评价与合法化的结构性不平等之间的关系。在这项研究中，参与者将被安排在与他们的自我评价一致或不一致的位置。当自我评价和结构立场一致时，所有行为者都应认为其资源水平是公平的，总体结构是合法的。这一项目的更广泛影响是，它有望更好地了解那些因分层制度而处于不利地位的人认为他们的地位是适当的条件。这项研究应该会对群体和组织中的不平等现象产生类似的见解。

SES-0623109Brent SimpsonSuzanne SutphinThis research addresses a long-standing puzzle in the social sciences: why are stratified social systems accepted as legitimate (the way things "ought" to be) by both those who are advantaged and those who are disadvantaged by the system? The proposed research builds on theories of self-evaluations to explain the legitimation of inequality. Previous research in this area has yet to create situations where disadvantaged actors view their lower levels of resources as fair and legitimate. This project will provide a clearer understanding of the social psychological mechanisms through which existing stratification systems come to be accepted as right by those subject to them. The proposed research consists of two experiments. In both, university undergraduates will be recruited to negotiate over valued resources in stratified structures. The first experiment examines the effect of (high vs. low power) structural positions on self-evaluations. It addresses whether actors develop self-evaluations consistent with their structural power (and consequent level of rewards). The second experiment addresses the relationship between self-evaluations and legitimated structural inequality. For this study, participants will be placed in positions either consistent or inconsistent with their self-evaluations. When self-evaluations and structural positions are congruent, all actors are expected to view their level of resources as fair and the overall structure as legitimate. The broader impacts of this project are that it holds promise for providing a better understanding of the conditions under which those disadvantaged by stratified systems view their position as appropriate. The research should yield similar insights into inequality in groups and organizations.