Social Dominance: An Intergroup Theory of Social Hierarchy and Oppression - Hardcover

Sidanius, Jim; Pratto, Felicia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521622905 ISBN 13: 9780521622905

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1999

Synopsis

This volume focuses on two questions: why do people from one social group oppress and discriminate against people from other groups? and why is this oppression so mind numbingly difficult to eliminate? The answers to these questions are framed using the conceptual framework of social dominance theory. Social dominance theory argues that the major forms of intergroup conflict, such as racism, classism and patriarchy, are all basically derived from the basic human predisposition to form and maintain hierarchical and group-based systems of social organization. In essence, social dominance theory presumes that, beneath major and sometimes profound difference between different human societies, there is also a basic grammar of social power shared by all societies in common. We use social dominance theory in an attempt to identify the elements of this grammar and to understand how these elements interact and reinforce each other to produce and maintain group-based social hierarchy.

About this title

Review

'Tightly and scientifically written, the book is an excellent resource for scholars.' South African Journal of Psychology

Book Description

This book suggests that the major forms in intergroup conflict, such as racism, classism and patriarchy, are derived from the human predisposition to form and maintain hierarchical and group-based systems of social organization. Social dominance theory is used to identify different elements that interact and reinforce each other to produce and maintain group-based social hierarchy.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521622905
• ISBN 13: 9780521622905
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 412