Social Dominance Theory: A New Synthesis Flashcards
What do social systems depend on?
“group based social hierarchies”
Is social dominance theory a psychological, or sociological theory?
Neither, it is an attempt to connect individual personality to institutional behavior and social structure
(Several levels of analysis into one theoretical framework)
How is the hierarchal social structure organized?
Dominant group: at top
Subordinate groups: at bottom
How is a dominant group determined?
By having positive social value, or material/symbolic things ppl want
(ex. political power)
What are subordinate groups determined by?
Negative social value
(low power/social status)
What does SDT (social dominance theory) attempt to identify?
Mechanisms that produce and maintain this group-based social hierarchy (and how they interact)
What is personal social status dependent on?
it depends on the social status and power of your group membership
What are the three main forms of groups?
- Age system (middle aged have power over youth)
- Gender system (men vs women)
- Arbitrary-set system (clan, race, estate, nation, etc)
Are statuses always fixed?
No, for example someone can occupy all statuses of the age system
- or gender can be more fixed
But it can be mostly fluid in Arbitrary -set system (usually context dependent, ex. race)
Which form if group is associated with the highest levels of violence, brutality and opression?
Arbitrary-set group
(ex. genocides are based on this)
Why aren’t arbitrary - set groups found among hunter/gatherer societies?
Usually no surplus of food
- So they couldn’t develop special roles (cuz everyone was making food)
(ex. armies/ police etc)
What social / political hierarchy existed among adult males in hunter/gatherer societies?
Who is more skilled / good at leadership
- on an INDIVIDUAL basis
Does every society have arbitrary - set stratification systems?
Yeah, it would be hard to find one without it
And every attempt to get rid of this system has failed
Using the information on food, when does the arbitrary - set hierarchy emerge?
Whenever the proper economic conditions allow
What are the three basic assumptions of social dominance theory?
- Arbitrary-set hierarchy will emerge with economic surplus (age and gender will always exist)
- Most group oppression (ex. racism, classism) are manifestations of the basic human disposition to form group-based social hierarchies
- Human social systems deal with hierarchy enhancing forces(inequality) and hierarchy attenuating forces (equality)
What is important to note about individual / institutional discrimination?
They both reflect and produce group based hierarchies
Group based social hierarchy is driven by three things:
Aggregated Individual discrimination
Discrimination from one individual to another
Group based social hierarchy is driven by three things:
Aggregated Institutional discrimination
Rules, procedures and actions of social institutions
Also: Systematic terror
use of violence / threats against subordinates (minorities)
What are the three forms of systematic error?
Official terror
Semi-official terror
Unofficial terror
Official terror: Public and legal violence / threat of violence
- Ex. disproportionate death penalty of subordinate groups, or Gaza
Semi-official terror: Carried out by state officials, but not public
- ex. systemic beatings, bombings, rapes, murders by secret service
Unofficial terror: From private individuals
-KKK
Group based social hierarchy is driven by three things:
Behavioral asymmetry
Behavioral differences of people will contribute to, and be reinforced by the group based hierarchy
Subordinates are not objects of oppression BUT have agency and actively participate in the oppression
How do subordinate groups have agency in the opression?
They often act cooperative, rather then subversive to the group based hierarchy
How does the law enforce the social order?
Laws are written to benefit the dominant social groups
