The Relationship between Punitiveness and Social Dominance Orientation: Comparing Japan and Korea

Abstract

Research conducted in the United States has revealed that the two subscales of social dominance orientation (SDO), SDO-D and SDO-E, are positively related to punitiveness. However, this issue has not been examined in a non-Western context. Therefore, this study explored the effects of SDO-D and SDO-E on punitiveness in Japan and Korea, societies that are relatively similar. Data collected from 409 Japanese and 417 Korean participants were analyzed using multi-group structural equation modelling. The results indicate that SDO-D was positively associated with the punitiveness subscales in both Japan and Korea and that SDO-E was negatively associated with the subscales only in Japan. The study explains the negative association between SDO-E and punitiveness in light of social dominance theory.