Relative Deprivation and Relative Wealth Enhances Anti-Immigrant Sentiments: The V-Curve Re-Examined

et al. 2019

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108

112

In addition to the negative effects of economic inequality on a range of health and social outcomes, we propose that inequality should also affect how people perceive the broader normative climate in society. We predicted that people living in a more unequal (vs. equal) society are more likely to appraise the social context as one where individualism determines people's behavior. We tested this idea in three experiments by manipulating the degree of economic inequality in a fictional society. We showed that, compared to the low‐inequality condition, participants in the high‐inequality condition were more likely to project individualistic norms onto society. Furthermore, Experiments 2 and 3 showed that in the high‐ (vs. low‐) economic‐inequality condition, participants inferred more competition and less cooperation between people. Our results are discussed in light of the importance of the perception of a broader normative climate to explain the consequences of economic inequality.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic inequality enhances inferences that the normative climate is individualistic and competitive

Sánchez‐Rodríguez

Willis

et al. 2019

Self Cite

108

112

“…The notion that opposition to immigration may not be linearly related to declining wealth has inspired vcurve research which proposes that both relative deprivation and relative gratification may underlie prejudice and negative attitudes towards minorities (Dambrun et al, 2006;Grofman & Muller, 1973;Guimond & Dambrun, 2002;Jetten et al, 2015;Moscatelli et al, 2014;Postmes & Smith, 2009). 2 Specifically, among a large representative sample in South Africa, Dambrun et al (2006) found that hostility towards immigrants was associated with participants' perceptions of economic deprivation (i.e., that they were dissatisfied with their personal economic conditions) and with perceptions of economic gratification (i.e., satisfaction with their own personal economic conditions), resulting in a v-curve relationship.…”

Section: For Whom Will Attitudes Towards Minoritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To further explore relative deprivation and relative gratification processes, we developed an experimental paradigm with the aim to make participants temporarily feel wealthy or poor (for details, see Jetten et al, 2015). Participants in the study were introduced to a hypothetical society called Bimboola after which they were told that, just like any other society, there are wealthy and poor groups in Bimboola.…”

Section: For Whom Will Attitudes Towards Minoritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The wealth paradox: Prosperity and opposition to immigration

2019

Self Cite

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.

“…Study 5 was similar to Study 3. Participants’ perceived social class was manipulated by the same virtual society paradigm (Jetten et al., ) used in Study 3. After the manipulation, participants completed the manipulation check ( α = .99) and the same scales as used in Study 3 measuring desire for wealth and status ( α = .83 and .89, respectively).…”

Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Wang

Steffens

2019

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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.