The politics of inequality and the inequality of politics

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-03/sfpa-tp030315.php

Public Release: 3-Mar-2015
Society for Personality and Social Psychology

Economic inequality is at historic highs. The wealthiest 1% own 40% of the nation's wealth. This staggering inequality raises the question, what are the psychological causes and effects of inequality?

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Lack of Awareness of Inequality Leads to Punishment of the Poor

Oliver Hauser, Harvard Business School

Many societies have seen income inequality rise in recent years, yet research shows that people are largely unaware of this increase. Lack of awareness of the current level of income inequality may lead people to punish poorer individuals for their relatively smaller contributions to the public good (such as taxes paid), due to a lack of awareness of their limited means.

The Tolerance of Inequality: Psychological Needs for Control and Social Hierarchies

Justin P. Friesen, York University

Research shows being in a hierarchical workplace was associated with increased occupational certainty and self-efficacy. These effects occurred even for individuals in lower positions in the hierarchy. Friesen discusses how disadvantaged individuals may be unwilling to question social hierarchies that justify inequality if those hierarchies are serving unmet psychological needs for structure.