{"id":142,"date":"2025-12-04T11:53:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T17:53:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phw.pfz.mybluehost.me\/website_0c7237c9\/?page_id=142"},"modified":"2026-05-07T07:08:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T12:08:11","slug":"social-dominance-orientation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/understanddjt\/deia-sdo-r-wa-and-fear\/social-dominance-orientation\/","title":{"rendered":"SOCIAL DOMINANCE ORIENTATION"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SOCIAL DOMINANCE ORIENTATION (SDO)<\/strong>
\nSocial Dominance Orientation (SDO) theory measures an individual\u2019s preference for hierarchical social structures and group-based inequality. Social dominance theory assumes that societies naturally create hierarchies based on arbitrary factors such as age, gender, race, skin color or class. Group conflicts like racism or sexism stem from a predisposition for or against these hierarchies.\u00a0People who score low on the SDO spectrum will typically score low on the SDO spectrum because they prefer governmental systems where certain in-groups dominate out-groups.\u00a0In effect, SDO measures a person\u2019s support for inequality between groups.<\/p>\n

The SDO spectrum describes personality traits that reflects how strongly individuals lean toward authoritarian hierarchy on one end and egalitarian fairness on the other. High\u2011SDO individuals tend to prefer group dominance and seek advantages for their in\u2011group over out\u2011groups, while low\u2011SDO individuals prioritize equality and often show a bias toward fairness for lower\u2011status or marginalized groups. These opposing orientations toward hierarchy and equality are the root cause of the deep partisan divide in American politics, shaping how different groups interpret justice, rights, and social change.\u200b<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

When codified in law or tradition, these distinctions award benefits to in-groups while creating injustice for out-groups.\u00a0Everyone fits somewhere, from low to high on the spectrum of SDO.<\/p>\n

High SDO<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Americans who rate high on the SDO spectrum favor social systems and governments where dominant in-groups maintain power over subordinate out-groups.\u00a0Americans like President Trump, Republicans in general and MAGA in particular score high in SDO because they view inequality as natural and favor policies that establish or expand distinctions between different populations in the social system. Globally, government leaders who score high in SDO also favor Right-Wing Authoritarianism (R-WA).<\/span><\/p>\n

High SDO correlates with prejudice, low empathy, and support for authoritarianism. High SDO correlates with support for hierarchy-enhancing policies, such as strict immigration controls or reduced welfare, that weaken democratic inclusivity. It links to political\u00a0illiberalism<\/a>, favoring autocratic \u201cstrongman\u201d rule over democratic checks and balances.\u00a0\u200bThis \u201canti-egalitarian\u201d orientation is the opposite of democratic principles represented in the Preamble to the Constitution.<\/span><\/p>\n

Low-SDO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Low SDO links to democratic government, egalitarianism and outgroup empathy. Low SDO people favor equality, cooperation, and social justice, often aligning with openness to experience<\/p>\n

It should not be surprising that high Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) generally conflicts with core democratic principles like equality and fairness. People who rank high on the SDO spectrum prioritize group hierarchies, which undermines democratic egalitarianism.<\/p>\n

It may be surprising to Christians who rank high on the SDO scale that this trait is inconsistent with what the bible says. This will be discussed later in this page.\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

\u200bUnlike hierarchical or traditional systems, d<\/span>emocratic societies score lower in the SDO spectrum because they promote cooperation and concern for others. High SDO is associated with lower support for democratic norms and a greater willingness to endorse political or social aggression when it is perceived as necessary to maintain in-group dominance. These tendencies help explain why some Americans express openness to actions that could weaken constitutional safeguards or democratic institutions when they believe such steps are required to protect their in\u2011group\u2019s status.<\/p>\n

High SDO links to power-seeking, low empathy, and support for policies preserving inequality. Low SDO correlates with empathy, social justice advocacy, and correction of structural social\/government inequalities imposed on disadvantaged out-groups by in-groups with unchecked political, social and economic power.<\/p>\n

Here is a summary of key SDO concepts:<\/p>\n