Social Dominance Theory

Social Dominance Orientation (SDO) is a construct in social psychology that measures an individual’s preference for inequality among social groups. People high in SDO tend to prefer hierarchies and endorse ideologies that maintain their group’s dominance. This orientation impacts attitudes toward social policies and intergroup relations. The relevance of SDO becomes particularly poignant when discussing Indigenization, reconciliation, and decolonization, especially in contexts like Canada, where these processes are integral to addressing historical and ongoing injustices against Indigenous peoples.