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The Effects of General System Justification on Corruption Perception and Intent
Xuyun Tan1, Li Liu2, Zhenwei Huang2
1Beijing Key Lab of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal UniversityBeijing, China; Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social SciencesBeijing, China.
Frontiers in Psychology
|August 11, 2016
Summary
Believing the system is just reduces perceived corruption and corrupt intent. Institutional trust mediates this effect, offering insights into human behavior and societal norms.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Political Science
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- System justification theory posits that people are motivated to justify existing social systems.
- Previous research on system justification's effect on corruption perception yields mixed results.
- Understanding factors influencing corruption perception and intention is crucial for societal well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of general system justification on corruption perception and intention.
- To explore the mediating role of institutional trust in the relationship between system justification and corruption.
- To clarify the ambiguous findings regarding system justification and corruption.
Main Methods:
- Three studies were conducted, employing correlational and experimental designs.
- Study 1 used questionnaires to assess the relationship between general system justification, corruption perception, and intention.
- Study 2 experimentally manipulated system justification by varying system threat levels.
- Study 3 examined the mediating role of institutional trust through correlational and experimental approaches.
Main Results:
- General system justification was negatively associated with both corruption perception and corrupt intention.
- Institutional trust was found to mediate the relationship between general system justification and corruption.
- Findings align with some previous research but offer a more nuanced understanding.
Conclusions:
- General system justification appears to reduce both the perception and intention of corruption.
- Institutional trust is a key psychological mechanism linking system justification to corruption.
- These findings contribute to understanding the psychological underpinnings of corrupt behaviors.
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