The Short Version
The claim correctly attributes System Justification Theory to John Jost and accurately states that people tend to defend social systems even when methods are harsh or unjust. However, it materially mischaracterizes the theory's mechanism by inserting "perceive as effective" as the driver. Jost's theory identifies psychological needs for certainty, security, and legitimacy—not perceived effectiveness—as the motivating forces. This substitution distorts a core element of the theory and would give readers a fundamentally incorrect understanding of why system justification occurs.