System justifying functions of myths that exaggerate the emotional rewards of parenthood

Popular beliefs exaggerate the emotional rewards of caring for children. These beliefs may persist because they provide ideological legitimacy for policies that otherwise might appear to exploit parents' contributions to the public good. Studies 1a and 1b tested whether information suggesting that parents' labor is unjustly exploited by society motivates people to exaggerate the emotional rewards of parenthood. Study 2 manipulated participants' exposure to parenthood idealizing myths to test whether these myths reduce support for expanding government assistance to parents. Across these studies support was found for the hypothesis that exaggerating the emotional rewards of children functions to legitimize and maintain low public assistance to parents. Theoretical insights into system justifying ideologies and practical implications for social justice movements are discussed.

► We examine system justifying functions of exaggerating parenthood's emotional rewards.
► Framing parental costs as exploitative promotes exaggeration of parenthood's emotional rewards.
► Exaggerating parenthood's emotional rewards reduces support for public assistance to parents.
► Results support motivational explanation for myths exaggerating parenthood's emotional rewards.