Culture, self, and politics: The effect of interdependent self-construal on system justification

Abstract

The tendency of individuals to either justify or challenge the existing social and political system has significant practical implications. This research integrates system justification theory with a cross-cultural perspective to examine the impact and underlying mechanisms of interdependent self-construal on system justification. Studies 1a (N = 201) and 1b (N = 205) demonstrated that interdependent self-construal correlated with higher system justification among both American and Chinese participants. Study 2 (N = 500) and Study 3 (N = 983) found that manipulation of an interdependent view of self-construal led to stronger system justification tendencies, and this effect was explained by an increased focus on collectivist values and respect for authority. Studies 4a (N = 278) and 4b (N = 836) further illustrated that the positive relationship between interdependent self-construal and system justification remained consistent even in low social mobility contexts. Taken together, the current research provides valuable insights into the cross-country differences in system justification and highlights the importance of incorporating cultural factors in future studies on system justification.