Bratanova Boyka, Loughnan Steve, Klein Olivier, Wood Robert
Unité de Psychologie Sociale CP 122, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.
School of Managment, University of St. Andrews, UK.
Scand J Psychol. 2016 Jun;57(3):243-9. doi: 10.1111/sjop.12281. Epub 2016 Mar 22.
Economic inequality has a robust negative effect on a range of important societal outcomes, including health, wellbeing, and education. Yet, it remains insufficiently understood why, how, and by whom unequal systems tend to be perpetuated. In two studies we examine whether psychological mindsets adopted by the wealthy and the poor in their micro-social transactions act to perpetuate or challenge inequality. We hypothesized that occupying a wealthier socioeconomic position promotes the pursuit of self-interest and contributes to inequality maintenance; poorer socioeconomic position, on the other hand, should promote the pursuit of fairness and equality restoration. In Study 1, participants completed an ultimatum game as proposers after being primed to believe they are wealthier or poorer, offering money to either poor or wealthy responders. As expected, the wealthy pursued their self-interest and the net effect of this behavior contributes to the maintenance of inequality. Conversely, the poor pursued fairness and the net effect of this behavior challenges inequality. In Study 2, participants were responders deciding whether to accept or reject unfair distributions. Compared to the wealthier, the poorer challenged inequality by rejecting unequal offers. The links between micro-social processes and macro-societal inequality are discussed.
经济不平等对一系列重要的社会成果有着强烈的负面影响，包括健康、幸福和教育。然而，不平等制度为何、如何以及由谁延续下去，我们对此仍了解不足。在两项研究中，我们考察了富人和穷人在微观社会交易中所采用的心理思维模式是会延续还是挑战不平等。我们假设，占据更富裕的社会经济地位会促进对自身利益的追求，并导致不平等的持续存在；而较贫穷的社会经济地位则应促进对公平和平等恢复的追求。在研究1中，参与者在被引导相信自己更富有或更贫穷后，作为提议者完成了一个最后通牒博弈，向贫穷或富有的回应者提供金钱。正如预期的那样，富人追求自身利益，这种行为的净效应有助于不平等的维持。相反，穷人追求公平，这种行为的净效应挑战了不平等。在研究2中，参与者作为回应者决定是否接受不公平的分配。与富人相比，穷人通过拒绝不平等的提议来挑战不平等。我们还讨论了微观社会过程与宏观社会不平等之间的联系。
