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

这项研究解决了社会科学中一个长期存在的难题：为什么分层的社会制度被那些在该制度中处于有利地位的人和处于不利地位的人都接受为合法的（事情“应该”是这样的）？拟议的研究建立在自我评价理论的基础上，以解释不平等的正当性。这一领域的先前研究尚未创造出弱势行动者将其较低的资源水平视为公平和合法的情况。这个项目将使人们更清楚地了解社会心理机制，通过这种机制，现有的分层制度将被那些受其影响的人接受为正确的。提出的研究包括两个实验。在这两种情况下，都将招募大学本科生在分层结构中协商有价值的资源。第一个实验检验（高权力与低权力）结构职位对自我评价的影响。它解决了行为者是否发展出与他们的结构权力（以及随之而来的奖励水平）相一致的自我评估。第二个实验探讨了自我评价与合理的结构性不平等之间的关系。在这项研究中，参与者将被置于与他们的自我评价一致或不一致的位置。当自我评价和结构位置一致时，所有参与者都认为他们的资源水平是公平的，整体结构是合法的。这个项目的更广泛的影响是，它有希望更好地了解那些在分层制度下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.