Social Dominance Theory

Social dominance theory (SDT) [1]is a theory of intergroup relations that focuses on the maintenance and stability of group-based social hierarchies.  According to the theory, group-based inequalities are maintained through three primary intergroup behaviors—specifically: institutional discrimination, aggregated individual discrimination, and behavioral asymmetry.

People endorse these different forms of ideologies based in part on their psychological orientation toward dominance and their desire for unequal group relations.  This is referred to as Social Dominance Orientation (SDO). People who are higher on SDO tend to endorse hierarchy-enhancing ideologies, and people who are lower on SDO tend to endorse hierarchy-attenuating ideologies.

[1] Learn more about SDT, dash.harvard.edu/…/Sidanius_SocialDominanceOrientation.pdf?sequence=1