One of the major sources of conflict in society is the discrimination of lower status groups by the dominant groups. Differences are clearly observed between the rich and the poor, he physically attractive and the undesirable, and the dominant and the submissive. Inequality is especially prominent amount races and ethnicities (Byrne & Wong, 1962; Katz & Braly, 1935), gender (Gittell, 2011; Hoeber, 2007), and social class (Blader & Chen, 2012; Heaven, Greene, Stones, & Caputi, 2000). Conflicts arise when the interests of the groups do not coincide and the status quo is challenged. Many theories attempt to describe the causes of prejudice including social identity theory (REFERENCE) and realistic group conflict theory (Jackson, 1993). Social
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More specifically, belief in a just world is used as a legitimizing myth for social dominance orientation. A legitimizing myth is used to justify the ideas and values that a person has (Pratto et al., 1994). Both social dominance orientation and belief in a just world are concerned with the differences perceived between groups in society. As Bizer, Hart, and Jekogian (2011) found, groups with lower status, such as the mentally ill, are looked down upon by the majority of society. People high in belief in a just world believed that people suffered from an illness because of past discretions that they are being punished for. Good health was a reward for good behaviour. In accordance with belief in a just world, those who scored high on social dominance orientation did not want to associate with the sick because they were not worthy of their attention (Bizer et al., 2011). The dominant believed they were more worthy than the subordinates and had negative views toward the sick therefore separation between the groups increased. The blame attributed to the sick for past iniquities lead to the belief that the healthy were more deserving of wealth and power which increased animosity and negative views (Bizer et al., 2011). BJW is used to explain why the healthy are superior to the sick supporting the belief that social dominance orientation is justified by just world
More specifically, belief in a just world is used as a legitimizing myth for social dominance orientation. A legitimizing myth is used to justify the ideas and values that a person has (Pratto et al., 1994). Both social dominance orientation and belief in a just world are concerned with the differences perceived between groups in society. As Bizer, Hart, and Jekogian (2011) found, groups with lower status, such as the mentally ill, are looked down upon by the majority of society. People high in belief in a just world believed that people suffered from an illness because of past discretions that they are being punished for. Good health was a reward for good behaviour. In accordance with belief in a just world, those who scored high on social dominance orientation did not want to associate with the sick because they were not worthy of their attention (Bizer et al., 2011). The dominant believed they were more worthy than the subordinates and had negative views toward the sick therefore separation between the groups increased. The blame attributed to the sick for past iniquities lead to the belief that the healthy were more deserving of wealth and power which increased animosity and negative views (Bizer et al., 2011). BJW is used to explain why the healthy are superior to the sick supporting the belief that social dominance orientation is justified by just world