John T. Jost has broadened our understanding of the cognitive, social, and political forces that drive intergroup relations. He is perhaps best known for developing system justification theory, which challenged existing social psychological theories of outgroup favoritism and revolutionized the way social and behavioral scientists think about hierarchy, status, and resistance to change. Jost combines interdisciplinary knowledge, cutting-edge scholarship, and a willingness to confront disconfirming evidence and oppositional views to produce unique research that addresses pressing real-world issues of intergroup conflict, such as left-right ideological polarization.
Professional positions
- 2003–present: Associate professor of psychology (2003–2008) and Professor of Psychology and Politics (2008–present), New York University
- 1997–2003: Assistant (1997–2000) and associate (2000–2003) professor of organizational behavior, Stanford University Graduate School of Business
Notable publications
- Jost, John T. 2021. Left & Right: The Psychological Significance of a Political Distinction. Oxford University Press.
- Jost, John T. 2020. A Theory of System Justification. Harvard University Press.
- Jost, John T. 2006. “The End of the End of Ideology.” American Psychologist 61(7): 651–670.
- Jost, John T., Mahzarin R. Banaji, and Brian A. Nosek. 2004. “A Decade of System Justification Theory: Accumulated Evidence of Conscious and Unconscious Bolstering of the Status Quo.” Political Psychology 25(6): 881–919.
Degrees
- PhD, social psychology, Yale University
- MPhil, social psychology, Yale University
- MS, social psychology, Yale University
- MA, philosophy, University of Cincinnati
- AB, psychology and human development, Duke University
