System Justification Bias
A motive to see existing arrangements as fair and legitimate, even when they harm you; it keeps people defending the status quo — institutions, vendors, bosses, prices — against their own interest.
An everyday example
Staff explaining why an obviously broken process is 'actually for good reasons'.
What it can cost you
Rationalising the systems you are stuck in; underestimating how much better things could be.
Warning signs
- I explain away harms from the system I am in.
- Change feels like disloyalty.
One thing to do
When defending an arrangement, ask whether you would choose it fresh today; if not, the defence is justification, not judgment.
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