Abstract: System-justification is the psychological process by which existing social arrangements are legitimized. The theoretical bases for system justification include such theories as false consciousness, belief in a just world theory and cognitive dissonance theory. System justification theory can explain why and how people would maintain and bolster the status quo in cognitive and ideology, and it also explicates the positive and negative results it brings. System justification is influenced by individual factors and contextual factors. Researchers should clarify the meaning of system in the construct of system justification and reinforce the applied research on the system justification theory so as to better explicate how the social changes occur.

Key words: system justification, stereotype, outgroup favoritism, compensatory control