Attitudinal ambivalence and the conflict between group and system justification motives in low status groups

It is argued that members of low status groups are faced with a psychologic al conflict between group justification tendencies to evaluate members of o ne's own group favorably and system justification tendencies to endorse the superiority of higher status outgroups In Study 1, members of low status g roups exhibited less ingroup favoritism and more ingroup ambivalence than d id members of high status groups. Perceptions that the status differences w ere legitimate increased outgroup favoritism and ambivalence among low stat us groups, and they increased ingroup favoritism and decreased ambivalence among high status groups. In Study 2, the belief in a just world and social dominance orientation increased ambivalence on the part of women toward fe male victims of gender discrimination but they decreased ambivalence on the part of men. Evidence here indicates that system-justifying variables incr ease ingroup ambivalence among low status group members and decrease ambiva lence among high status group members.