Social dominance orientation is a construct that is thought to reflect the extent to which people that differences between groups and people is inevitable and natural.  There is some devbate as to how much this is self-serving (i.e., middle-and upper-class people justifying their lot in life), versus reflecting a broader value orientation favouring meritocracy ("better" people should get more than people who are not as good) versus equality.

  Here is the 16-item scale used to measure it.  The results are from a sample of  434 UWO students about 4 years ago.


1.     Some groups of people are simply inferior to other groups.     ____

 2.     In getting what you want, it is sometimes necessary to use force against other groups.     ____

 3.     It's OK if some groups have more of a chance in life than others.     ____

 4.     To get ahead in life, it is sometimes necessary to stop on other groups.     ____

 5.     If certain groups staying in their place, we would have fewer problems.     ____

 6.     It's probably a good thing that certain groups are at the top and other groups are at the bottom.     ____

 7.     Inferior groups should stay in their place.     ____

 8.     Sometimes other groups must be kept in their place.     ____

 9.     It would be good if groups could be equal.     ____

 10.      Group equality should be our ideal.     ____

 11.      All groups should be given an equal chance in life.     ____

 12.      We should do what we can to equalize conditions for different groups.     ____

 13.      Increased social equality.     ____

 14.      We would have fewer problems if we treated people more equally.     ____

 15.      We should strive to make incomes as equal as possible.     ____

 16.      No one group should dominate in society.     ____