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- Title
The Gap Between Us: Income Inequality Reduces Social Affiliation in Dyadic Interactions.
- Authors
Stancato, Daniel M.; Keltner, Dacher; Chen, Serena
- Abstract
In this investigation, we tested the hypothesis that increased income inequality between individuals will reduce social affiliation within dyadic interactions. In three experiments, we examined the effects of income inequality on key indices of affiliation using semi-structured interactions. In the first two experiments, a participant and confederate were randomly assigned to a low- or high-power role and compensated mildly or extremely unequally. In Experiment 3, inequality and inequity were orthogonally manipulated to determine whether inequality's social consequences are moderated by the fairness of the income distribution. We demonstrated that greater inequality produced more negative emotional responses, reduced desire for closeness, and harsher evaluations of one's partner, regardless of one's power role and the equitability of the income distribution. We also obtained evidence that greater inequality reduces behavioral warmth, although this effect was less consistent. Our results begin to unpack the psychological processes through which income inequality worsens societal well-being.
- Subjects
GAP Inc.; INCOME inequality; INCOME distribution; SOCIAL impact; POWER (Social sciences); WELL-being
- Publication
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 2024, Vol 50, Issue 8, p1280
- ISSN
0146-1672
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/01461672231164213