A social identity analysis of responses to economic inequality

Steffens

2019

Euro J Social Psych

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Traditional theories have focused on the intentions of lower‐class individuals to climb on the social ladder, yet they have paid relatively little attention to the motivations of upper‐class individuals to ascend even higher. Addressing this issue, Studies 1 and 2 provided cross‐national evidence that higher social class is associated with a greater desire for wealth and status. Moreover, by manipulating perceived social class, Studies 3 and 5 experimentally confirmed that compared to people in the lower‐class group, those in the upper‐class group express a stronger desire for wealth and status. Furthermore, in line with self‐categorization theory predictions, Studies 3–5 showed that upper‐class individuals tend to see and use wealth and status as important attributes in defining and categorizing self, and this tendency explains the effect of social class on desire for wealth and status. Together, our findings demonstrate a “having more—wanting more” relationship, and its consequences are further discussed.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The more you have, the more you want? Higher social class predicts a greater desire for wealth and status

Wang

Steffens

2019

Euro J Social Psych

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“…For instance, generally speaking, while social scientists have been interested in system-level macro-level predictors such as economic inequality and wealth disparities within societies when predicting outcomes such as social unrest and prosocial behaviour (Fajnzylber, Lederman, & Norman, 2002a, 2002bUslaner & Brown, 2005;Wilkinson & Pickett, 2009), social psychologists have been more interested in individual level (e.g., Piff, Kraus, Côt e, Cheng, & Keltner, 2010;Piff, Stancato, Côt e, Mendoza-Denton, & Keltner, 2012) or group level predictors at the meso-level (Jetten, Wang, et al, 2017) to explain those same outcomes. For instance, generally speaking, while social scientists have been interested in system-level macro-level predictors such as economic inequality and wealth disparities within societies when predicting outcomes such as social unrest and prosocial behaviour (Fajnzylber, Lederman, & Norman, 2002a, 2002bUslaner & Brown, 2005;Wilkinson & Pickett, 2009), social psychologists have been more interested in individual level (e.g., Piff, Kraus, Côt e, Cheng, & Keltner, 2010;Piff, Stancato, Côt e, Mendoza-Denton, & Keltner, 2012) or group level predictors at the meso-level (Jetten, Wang, et al, 2017) to explain those same outcomes.…”

Section: Setting An Agendamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A concern with the instability of the wealth position and a perceived challenge to the legitimacy of the wealth position might lead higher wealth groups to strike first and defend their affluent position against challenge (see Moscatelli et al, 2014). This suggests that among majority group members, it may be a sense of entitlement that drives support for politicians with an anti-immigrant agenda (see also Jetten, Wang, et al, 2017). The latter process was captured in the opening quote by Hochschild (2016).…”

Section: When High Wealth Is Insecurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, social psychologists, with their focus on psychological mechanisms, typically analyse processes at a micro level of analysis than other social scientists who typically take a system level or macro-level approach. For instance, generally speaking, while social scientists have been interested in system-level macro-level predictors such as economic inequality and wealth disparities within societies when predicting outcomes such as social unrest and prosocial behaviour (Fajnzylber, Lederman, & Norman, 2002a, 2002bUslaner & Brown, 2005;Wilkinson & Pickett, 2009), social psychologists have been more interested in individual level (e.g., Piff, Kraus, Côt e, Cheng, & Keltner, 2010;Piff, Stancato, Côt e, Mendoza-Denton, & Keltner, 2012) or group level predictors at the meso-level (Jetten, Wang, et al, 2017) to explain those same outcomes. This suggests that to advance knowledge in this field, there is a need for theorising that can connect the different levels of analysis.…”

Section: Setting An Agendamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While status and power are by definition conferred by others, wealth is solely based on the possession of financial and material resources relative to others (Wang, Jetten, & Steffens, 2018). Nevertheless, status, power and wealth are naturally confounded and there are reasons to suspect that theorising explaining the effects of status and power might apply to explaining the effects of wealth (see Jetten, Wang, et al, 2017). This opens up interesting possibilities.…”

Section: Setting An Agendamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The wealth paradox: Prosperity and opposition to immigration

2019

Euro J Social Psych

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The idea that economic downturns and economic deprivation provoke tensions and intergroup hostility is remarkably pervasive. These accounts often work from the premise that economic crises and poverty provide “fertile soil” for populist parties and leaders with an anti‐immigrant agenda. This may explain why we intuitively expect that “hard times” produce “harsh attitudes” towards minorities. However, there is also robust empirical evidence showing that intergroup hostility (and anti‐immigration sentiments more specifically) can (i) surge in times of economic prosperity, and (ii) be widespread among relatively affluent groups. In this article, I will review evidence showing that intergroup hostility (such as anti‐immigrant sentiments) can be equally prevalent in times of relative gratification as well as in times of relative deprivation (accounting for the “Wealth Paradox”). In the second part of this contribution, I will explore these processes through the lens of classic social identity theorising focusing on the way that status anxiety, status threat, and fear of falling among members of wealthier groups are shaped by the permeability of group boundaries and the security of wealth positions. I argue that social identity theorising, typically applied to explain the behaviour of low status groups, can provide a parsimonious and integrative account for why and when high status (i.e., as a result of affluence and prosperity) may be associated with hostility towards minorities rather than with greater tolerance.

Economic inequality and the rise of far‐right populism: A social psychological analysis

Jay

Batruch

Community & Applied Soc Psy

et al. 2019

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It is argued that far-right (FR) populism in the West is fuelled by inequality. In this paper, we argue that three social psychological processes are central to explaining these phenomena. We suggest that these processes are recursive although we do not specify their temporal order.Drawing on the social identity tradition, we first examine how inequality is linked to reduced social trust and cohesion, which has consequences for both low-and highincome groups. We examine the known effects of perceived threat in amplifying tensions between groups and consolidating identity positions. Second, we argue that national identity consolidation is a particularly likely response to inequality, which, in turn, reduces tolerance of cultural diversity as an associated consequence. Finally, we consider the value of these strengthened national identities to those who harness them effectively to gain political ground. In this way, those who offer FR populist rhetoric aligned with nationalism can blame immigrants, "foreign" powers, and mainstream politics for both the lack of social cohesion and reduced economic circumstances of many. We conclude that FR populist leaders not only tap into the negative social consequences of inequality, their policy positions also fail to address and may even compound the situation.---