A Research on Residential Preferences in the Context of Social Dominance Theory

Social inequality and its effects on society have been the focus point of various studies. Social Dominance Theory, one of the theories that examines society in this context, aims to investigate the mechanisms that prepare the ground for the formation, legitimization and continuation of group – based hierarchies. In accordance with that, Social Dominance Orientation (SDO), conceptualized as the tendency of individuals to support inequality, is measured using the Social Dominance Orientation Scale developed within the framework of the theory. Although Social Dominance Orientation is predominantly evaluated in social science research, this study aims to expand its applicability to architecture and design, on the premise that architecture cannot be considered independently from the societal structures and social dynamics that shape it. Based on this interconnectedness, the study hypothesizes that individuals’ attitude in supporting or maintaining social hierarchy would be reflected in both their current housing conditions and housing preferences. To test this hypothesis, a survey was conducted with 464 participants, and the collected data were analyzed with various statistical methods using SPSS program. Based on the data, how individuals' SDO affect the current and preferred housing space are evaluated. Overall, by revealing the connections between ideological orientations and residential preferences with an interdisciplinary approach, the study seeks to point out that architecture is tightly bounded with societal dynamics. Keywords: Built Environment, Housing Conditions, Social Inequality, Residential Preferences, Social Dominance Orientation