Do Superordinate Identification and Temporal/Social Comparisons Independently Predict Citizens’ System Trust? Evidence From a 40-Nation Survey

Do superordinate in-group bias as well as temporal and social comparisons offer standalone explanations for system justification? We addressed this question using the latest World Value Survey (7th Wave), combining the responses of 55,721 participants from 40 different nations. Results from a random slope multilevel model showed that superordinate (national) identification, temporal comparison (i.e., the outcomes of an individual relative to those of his/her parents at different time points), and social comparison (based on income levels) were independent and positive predictors of system justification. Specifically, system justification increased when national identification was high, when income increased (i.e., the socioeconomic comparison was positive), and when the outcomes of citizens improved relative to the outcomes of their parents at relevant time points (i.e., the temporal comparison was positive). Incidentally, we also observed an interaction between national identification and temporal comparison (but not with social comparison), indicating that positive temporal comparison seemed to have a reduced effect (but still significant) for highly identified citizens. These results are supportive of the social identity approach to system justification and suggest that support for societal systems is a positive function of people’s personal and group interests

Editorial: Exploring system justification phenomenon among disadvantaged individuals

The question of why (or even when) the disadvantaged might be more or less supportive of existing social arrangements is a matter of debate amongst social and political psychologists (e.g., Passini, 2019; Jost, 2020, see also Rubin et al., 2022). Accordingly, for this Research Topic, we chose a title that was deliberately broad in scope, accommodating several aspects that included: (a) the drivers of system justification; (b) the socio-structural conditions that enhance or dampen system justification, (c) the ideological correlates of system support, and (d) the impact of system justification on wellbeing. Taken together, the contributions comprised in this Research Topic provide a comprehensive analysis of these four issues

Microbial Quality Assessment of Ice Cream Sold in Umuahia, South-Eastern Nigeria: A Comparative Study

Microbial analysis was conducted on seventeen ice cream samples; industrially produced (X1-X7), locally produced (Y1-Y6) and fast food ice cream (Z1-Z4) purchased within Umuahia respectively. The total aerobic plate count (TAPC) and the total fungal count (TFC) ranged from 4.05×104 (Z4) to 1.83×105 (Y3) cfu/g (TAPC); and 1.00×103 (Y4) to 3.00×103 (X2, X7, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y5, Y6) cfu/g (TFC). The total coliform count (TCC), the total Staphylococcal (TSC) and Salmonella counts (SAC) ranged from 8.00×103 (X3), to 3.80×104 (Y6) cfu/g (TCC); 3.00×103 cfu/g (X2), to 1.50×104 (Y2) cfu/g (TSC); and 2.00×103 (X7), to 1.30×104 (Y1) cfu/g (SAC); with a zero count for the fast food samples. Escherichia coli (EC) and Shigella counts (SHC) ranged from 4.00×103 (Y2), to 1.20×104 (Y6) cfu/g (EC) and 4.00×103 (Y3), to 6.00×103 (Y2) cfu/g (SHC); with a zero count for both the industrially produced and fast food samples. The Lactobacillus count ranged from 3.65×104 (X5) to 9.35×104 (X4) cfu/g. The distribution of the isolates include: Staphylococcus aureus 7 (41.18%), Lactobacillus spp. 17 (100%), Bacillus spp. 13 (76.47%), Shigella spp. 2 (11.76%), Salmonella spp. 3 (17.65%), Escherichia coli 4 (23.53%), Streptococcus spp. 9 (52.94%), Aspergillus spp. 1(5.88%) and Fusarium spp. 16 (94.12%). Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the ice cream sample categories (P<0.05; P<0.01). Comparing the general counts, the study concluded that the microbial quality of ice cream sold in fast food joints in Umuahia was better than the other two categories. The presence of food-borne pathogens beyond the acceptable limit is of public health importance. Keywords: microbial quality, ice cream, Umuahia, comparative study

Social creativity: Reviving a social identity approach to social stability

Social Identity Theory (SIT) is commonly applied to explain social change. We aim to revive interest in the concept of social creativity in order to provide a SIT perspective on bolstering and challenging social stability. Social creativity allows people to maintain or achieve a positive social identity through re‐interpreting intergroup relations. Despite this crucial role in shaping intergroup comparisons, the causes and effects of social creativity are largely unknown. To understand how social creativity can contribute to social stability, we argue for a return to SIT’s dynamic nature of constantly re‐negotiating intergroup relations, involving both higher‐ and lower‐status groups. Within these dynamics, we propose that social creativity can play the roles of coping with, promoting, and questioning social stability. Additionally, we outline a research agenda for future research on social creativity and discuss the impact that social stability can have in societies