Social Dominance Orientation Underlies Social Valuation in a Competitive Social Hierarchy – Frontiers

Report on the Influence of Social Dominance Orientation on Fairness Perception and Its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Contextualizing Fairness within the Sustainable Development Goals Framework

The subjective human experience of fairness is a critical component of social cohesion and stability. Understanding the variability in fairness perception is fundamental to achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). This report details the findings of a study investigating the psychological underpinnings of these individual differences, hypothesizing that a person’s Social Dominance Orientation (SDO)—their preference for social hierarchy and inequality—is a significant influencing factor. The research explores how SDO interacts with competitive outcomes and social rank to shape perceptions of resource distribution, providing critical insights for policies aimed at fostering equitable and inclusive societies.

Methodological Framework

The study employed a multi-stage experimental design to assess how individual attitudes toward hierarchy influence judgments on fairness.

1. Participant Assessment and SDO Profiling

   A cohort of 29 participants was evaluated using a standard SDO questionnaire. This initial step was crucial for quantifying each individual’s acceptance of group-based social hierarchy, a metric directly relevant to understanding psychological barriers to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

2. Experimental Tasks

   Participants engaged in two competitive tasks designed to simulate social and economic interactions:

   • Hierarchy Formation Task: An initial task established a clear social hierarchy among competitors based on performance.
   • Social Valuation Task: In the main task, participants competed against opponents of varying ranks. Following each trial, a performance-based reward and a variable bonus were distributed. Participants rated the desirability of the bonus distribution, providing a direct measure of their “social valuation” or perception of fairness.

3. Analytical Approach

   LASSO regression analysis was utilized to determine the influence of multiple variables—including self-reward, bonus inequity, competitive outcome (win/loss), opponent’s rank, and the participant’s SDO score—on social valuation ratings.

Key Findings: The Role of SDO in Modulating Perceptions of Inequity

The research identified SDO as a primary factor governing how individuals perceive fairness in competitive, hierarchical contexts. These findings have direct relevance for understanding the societal challenges addressed by the SDGs.

The Impact of Hierarchy and Competition on Fairness

• Individuals with a high SDO consistently preferred bonus distributions that favored themselves, regardless of the competitive outcome. This mindset reflects a desire to maintain and enhance personal advantage, which actively works against the principles of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• High-SDO participants rated bonus distributions more favorably when competing against lower-ranked opponents, demonstrating how a hierarchical worldview can justify and perpetuate unequal treatment.
• Conversely, individuals with a low SDO demonstrated a more complex and context-dependent perception of fairness. They tended to favor larger bonuses for the winner, even when they themselves lost. This suggests an adherence to principles of meritocracy and procedural justice, which are foundational to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
• Low-SDO individuals rated bonuses more favorably when facing higher-ranked opponents, indicating a potential deference to or acceptance of established status, or a compensatory attitude toward those in different hierarchical positions.

Implications for Sustainable Development

The study’s conclusions provide a deeper understanding of the psychological challenges to achieving a more sustainable and equitable world.

Relevance for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

The findings illustrate that SDO is a significant psychological barrier to reducing inequality. A high-SDO predisposition, which favors hierarchical structures and self-interest, fosters the acceptance and perpetuation of unequal resource distribution. Efforts to achieve SDG 10 must therefore not only address systemic and economic structures but also consider the underlying psychological orientations that sustain them.

Relevance for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

Perceptions of fairness are integral to the stability of societies and the legitimacy of their institutions. A population with a high prevalence of high-SDO individuals may struggle to support or trust institutions that aim to promote equality and social justice. Building the “strong institutions” called for in SDG 16 requires fostering societal values that align with principles of fairness and inclusivity, directly countering the hierarchical preferences associated with high SDO.

Conclusion

This research demonstrates that Social Dominance Orientation is a key determinant of how individuals perceive fairness in relation to social hierarchy and competition. High-SDO individuals tend to endorse outcomes that reinforce inequality, while low-SDO individuals exhibit more nuanced judgments aligned with procedural fairness. These psychological dispositions are critically important in the global effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Understanding these individual-level factors is essential for designing effective interventions, policies, and educational programs aimed at fostering the equitable, just, and inclusive societies envisioned by SDG 10 and SDG 16.

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article’s central theme is the perception of fairness in reward distribution (“bonus inequity”) and how this is influenced by social hierarchy. This directly connects to the goal of reducing inequalities, as the study explores the psychological underpinnings of how individuals accept or reject unequal outcomes.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The study of “fairness” and “social valuation” is fundamental to the concept of justice. The article investigates the psychological factors that determine whether a system (in this case, a competitive environment) is perceived as just. This relates to building effective and accountable institutions whose rules and outcomes are seen as fair by their members.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article lists “Well-being” as a keyword. Perceptions of fairness, inequity, and one’s position within a social hierarchy are significant factors affecting mental health and psychological well-being. Understanding how these perceptions are formed is relevant to promoting well-being in social and professional environments.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome… The article directly examines “inequalities of outcome” by analyzing how participants react to different distributions of a “variable bonus” that is independent of performance. The study of “inequity aversion” and preferences for certain distributions speaks to the psychological dimension of this target.
2. Target 10.2: …empower and promote the social… inclusion of all, irrespective of… other status. The experiment establishes a “social hierarchy” and uses “opponent rank” as a key variable. The findings, which show that perceptions of fairness differ based on one’s own status (high/low SDO) and the opponent’s status (rank), are relevant to understanding the dynamics of social inclusion and exclusion based on status.
3. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. An institution’s effectiveness and the trust placed in it depend on its reward and justice systems being perceived as fair. The article’s findings on how SDO shapes “social valuation” provide insight into why institutional rules and outcomes might be perceived differently by different individuals, a key consideration for building accountable institutions.
4. Target 3.4: …promote mental health and well-being. The article connects its research to “Well-being.” The stress or satisfaction derived from perceived fairness or unfairness in social competition and reward allocation is a direct contributor to mental well-being. The study explores the “social valuation” of outcomes, which is a component of the psychological experience that impacts well-being.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Social Valuation Ratings: The article explicitly mentions that participants “rated the desirability (social valuation) of each bonus distribution on a 4-point scale.” This rating is a direct, quantifiable indicator of perceived fairness and satisfaction with outcomes, which can be used as a proxy to measure perceptions related to inequality (SDG 10) and justice (SDG 16).
• Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) Score: The study assesses participants’ SDO using a “standard SDO questionnaire.” This score serves as an indicator of an individual’s attitude towards social hierarchy and inequality. Tracking such attitudes in a population could provide insight into the societal acceptance of inequality, relevant to SDG 10.
• Influence of Inequity and Opponent Rank: The regression analysis examines how “bonus inequity” and “opponent rank” affect social valuation. The statistical weight of these factors serves as an indicator of how much inequality and social status influence perceptions of fairness. A reduction in the negative impact of these factors could signify progress towards more equitable and just systems (SDG 10, SDG 16).

Summary Table of Findings

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators’ to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: frontiersin.org