The Psychology of Legitimacy: Emerging Perspectives on Ideology, Justice, and Intergroup Relations [Paperback]

This book, first published in 2001, provides a general approach to the psychological basis of social inequality.This book addresses how people think about inequalities of race, gender, class, status, and power, and it focuses on why social inequality is perceived as fair and legitimate. Work on stereotyping and internalization of inferiority helps to explain why the oppressed do not revolt. The book has important implications for leadership and politics and for understanding how businesses and governments maintain their legitimacy to customers and public audiences.This book addresses how people think about inequalities of race, gender, class, status, and power, and it focuses on why social inequality is perceived as fair and legitimate. Work on stereotyping and internalization of inferiority helps to explain why the oppressed do not revolt. The book has important implications for leadership and politics and for understanding how businesses and governments maintain their legitimacy to customers and public audiences.This book addresses how people think about inequalities of race, gender, class, status, and power, and it focuses on why social inequality is perceived as fair and legitimate. Work on stereotyping and internalization of inferiority helps to explain why the oppressed do not revolt. The book has important implications for leadership and politics and for understanding how businesses and governments maintain their legitimacy to customers and public audiences.Part I: Introduction: 1. Emerging perspectives on the psychology of legitimacy John T. Jost and Brenda Major; Part II. Historical Perspectives on Sociological and Psychological Theories of Legitimacy: 2. Theories of legitimacy Morris Zelditch, Jr; 3. Reflections on social and psychological processes of legitimization and delegitimization Herbert C. Kelman; Part III. Cognitive and Perceptual Processes in the Appraisal of Legitimacy: 4. A perceptual theory of legitimacy: policies, prejudice, social instil³á