Support for group-based inequality among members of low-status groups as an ingroup status-enhancement strategy

We discuss the idea that competition-based motives boost low-status group members’ support for group-based hierarchy and inequality. Specifically, the more low-status group members feel motivated to compete with a relevant high-status outgroup, based on the belief that existing status positions may be reversed, the more they will defend status differentials (i.e., high social dominance orientation; SDO). Using minimal groups (N = 113), we manipulated ingroup (low vs. high) status, and primed unstable status positions to all participants. As expected, we found that SDO positively mediates the relation between ingroup identification and collective action, when ingroup’s status is perceived to be low and status positions are perceived as highly unstable. We discuss the implications of considering situational and contextual factors to better understand individuals’ support for group-based hierarchies and inequality, and the advantages of considering ideological processes in predicting collective action. Our work discusses the idea that competition-based motives boost low-status group members’ SDO, that is, when they believe the existing status positions can be reversed. SDO endorsement among members of low-status groups is expected to be negatively associated with group identification and collective action, because support for hierarchical intergroup relations and status differentials is believed to go against their self- and group interests. Results showed that SDO positively mediates the relation between group identification and collective action, when ingroup’s status is perceived to be low and status positions are perceived as highly unstable (i.e., SDO as an ingroup status-enhancement strategy).