Perceived Legitimacy of the Social System, Belief in a just World and Social Dominance Orientation of Volunteers in Non-Governmental Organizations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the way that volunteers in non-governmental organizations perceive the system and the world as fair and whether they bolster intergroup hierarchies. Therefore a number of social psychological variables related to volunteering efforts were examined. In order to reach the goal of the study, data was collected from two separate groups. First group included members worked actively in non-governmental organizations as volunteers. Second group consisted of people who have never been a member of such organizations and never worked as volunteers before and during this study. A total of 271 individuals (137 members and 134 non-members) participated in the study. Participants received a set of questionnaires involving General Belief in A Just World Scale, Personal Belief in A Just World Scale, Social Dominance Orientation Scale, and General System Justification Scale. After they filled out these questionnaires, they were also asked to state their socio-demographic characteristics in a form. Results revealed that the members of non-governmental organizations, compared to non-members, perceived the system as less legitimate, and have lower levels of belief in a just world and social dominance orientation. It seems that to endorse equality rather than support intergroup hierarchies, to believe that the prevailing social system is not legitimate and the world is not a just place associate with helping the members of disadvantaged groups voluntarily. 

Keywords

• System Justification,Belief in a Just World

SİVİL TOPLUM KURULUŞU GÖNÜLLÜLERİNİN SOSYAL SİSTEMİN MEŞRUİYETİNE İLİŞKİN ALGILARI, ADİL DÜNYA İNANÇLARI VE SOSYAL BASKINLIK YÖNELİMLERİ

Abstract

Bu çalışma toplumdaki dezavantajlı gruplara destek sağlamak için sivil toplum kuruluşlarında gönüllü olarak çalışan kişilerin dünyayı ne kadar adil algıladıkları, gruplar arası hiyerarşileri destekleyip desteklemedikleri ve içinde yaşadığımız sosyal sistemi ne derece meşru algıladıkları sorularına yanıt aramak amacı ile yapılmıştır. Böylece gönüllülük çabaları altında yatan bazı sosyal psikolojik değişkenler incelenmeye çalışılmıştır. Araştırmaya 137 sivil toplum kuruluşu gönüllüsü ve 134 herhangi bir sivil toplum kuruluşuna üye olmayan toplam 271 kişi katılmıştır. Katılımcılara Adil Dünya İnancı Ölçeği, Sistemi Meşrulaştırma Ölçeği ve Sosyal Baskınlık Yönelimi Ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Bulgular sivil toplum kuruluşu gönüllülerinin gönüllü olmayanlara oranla sistemi daha az meşru algıladıklarını, genel adil dünya inançlarının ve sosyal baskınlık yönelimlerinin ise daha düşük olduğunu göstermiştir. Sistemin meşru olmadığını düşünme, gruplar arası hiyerarşileri değil eşitliği destekleme ve dünyanın adil bir yer olmadığı inancı dezavantajlı insanlara gönüllü olarak yardım etme davranışı ile ilişkili görünmektedir. 

Keywords

• Sistemi Meşrulaştırma,Adil Dünya İnancı

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