Life is unfair, so why don't we do more about it?
In the 2016 Vice-Chancellor's Lecture Series at the University of Auckland, Professor John T Jost from New York University discusses how System Justification Theory helps explain why we tolerate and even justify unfairness.
Drawing on more than 20 years' cutting-edge research in social, personality and political psychology, Professor Jost will also discuss why some political and religious ideologies are more likely to tolerate and justify inequality, and deny or minimise problems associated with it.
"One of the biggest puzzles in social psychology at the moment is understanding why people often support the status quo even where it conflicts with their own self-interest," says Dr Osborne from the University of Auckland's School of Psychology.
"We are delighted that Professor Jost, who is an international leader in research that attempts to understand this paradox, is coming to New Zealand for these lectures."
In the second lecture for the series, Associate Professor Marc Wilson of the School of Psychology, Victoria University, Wellington, and Professor Jost look at how belief systems influence and shape political outcomes.
They will highlight the psychology of political and religious ideologies and how belief systems meet people's needs by reducing uncertainty, managing fears associated with death and allowing us to align ourselves with others.
Provided by University of Auckland