PLOS Samson Trust as a mechanism of system justification

This paper examines relationships of trust as reflecting people’s system justifying motivation in a series of three experimental studies using the trust game. It shows that among the disadvantaged trusting behaviors are characterized by outgroup favoritism (more trust toward the advantaged than toward fellow disadvantaged) and among the advantaged they are characterized by ingroup favoritism (more trust toward fellow advantaged than the disadvantaged). It also shows that the strength of these biases is dependent on the level of endorsement of system justifying ideology and the legitimacy of the system. More trust toward those holding advantaged status within a social system, expressed both by equally privileged as well as by underprivileged others, not only secures the advantaged in their positions but also reinforces the underlying inequality.