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Author ORCID Identifier
N/A
AccessType
Open Access Dissertation
Document Type
dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Degree Program
Psychology
Year Degree Awarded
2017
Month Degree Awarded
May
First Advisor
Ronnie Janoff-Bulman
Second Advisor
Brian Lickel
Third Advisor
Aline Sayer
Fourth Advisor
Sheila Mammen
Subject Categories
Cognition and Perception | Cognitive Psychology | Economic Policy | Experimental Analysis of Behavior | Income Distribution | Inequality and Stratification | Multicultural Psychology | Other Psychology | Personality and Social Contexts | Political Economy | Politics and Social Change | Public Economics | Quantitative Psychology | Social Psychology | Social Psychology and Interaction | Social Statistics | Social Welfare
Abstract
What predicts support for the redistribution of resources to improve socioeconomic inequality? Social class, or the subjective perception of one’s resources and position in relation to others in a larger society, was examined as one relevant characteristic. Across four experiments, social class as subjective social status was manipulated (two) and measured (all four), and found to have a significant negative effect on support for the moral values of group-based equality (social justice) but not on individual deservingness (fairness) separate from political identity and other demographic characteristics. This effect was seen on stated principles but particularly relevant in approval ratings of conflict scenarios in which social justice is violated in favor of fairness such as in instances counter to Affirmative Action policies. Using an abstract/higher construal level or “big picture” style of thinking (measured in all four studies and manipulated in two studies) independently predicted objections to the violations of social justice but not fairness in such scenarios. Socioeconomic inequality has undeniably poor consequences for a society and understanding the psychological perspectives of those along the social class continuum, particularly those in power towards the top, may be a step towards alleviating such inequality.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/9938737.0
Recommended Citation
Bharadwaj, Prerana, "The Role of Social Class and Construal Level in Social Justice and Fairness Beliefs" (2017). Doctoral Dissertations. 936.
https://doi.org/10.7275/9938737.0
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_2/936
Included in
Cognition and Perception Commons, Cognitive Psychology Commons, Economic Policy Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, Income Distribution Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Political Economy Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Public Economics Commons, Quantitative Psychology Commons, Social Psychology Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons, Social Statistics Commons, Social Welfare Commons