Economic inequality: Consequences for societies’ social and political vitality
Societal inequality has been found to have pernicious effects reducing mental and physical health and decreasing societal cohesion. However, this work lacks compelling, theory-driven explanations for why inequality has these effects and when and for whom these effects are likely to emerge. These are important gaps because to respond effectively to inequality we need a holistic understanding of its effect on individuals as well as the collectives within which they are embedded and that structure their interactions with one another. A social psychological analysis can help to fill the gaps in this picture in at least three ways: (1) by pointing to the processes that explain why inequality has negative effects for individuals and societies, (2) by emphasizing the relevance of subjective perceptions of inequality, and (3) by identifying the group dynamics that underpin the negative effects on inequality. I will present a range of studies and contexts where we have examined the effect of objective measures of inequality as well as perceptions of inequality on outcomes such as well-being, the desire for more, the wish for a strong leader, prosocial behavior, and the endorsement of conspiracy theories. The findings underscore the notion that inequality may have even more far-reaching consequences than believed until now. Investigating the effects of inequality on citizens’ socio-political behaviour may be increasingly relevant in the light of today’s turbulent political and social landscape.