Int J Psychol. 2019 Feb;54(1):117-125. doi: 10.1002/ijop.12437. Epub 2017 Jul 03.

Economic and social distance: Perceived income inequality negatively predicts an interdependent self-construal.

International journal of psychology : Journal international de psychologie

Ángel Sánchez-Rodríguez, Guillermo B Willis, Rosa Rodríguez-Bailón

PMID: 28675432 DOI: 10.1002/ijop.12437

Abstract

Previous research has shown that economic inequality influences how people are related with others. In this article, we suggest that perceived economic inequality influences self-construal. Specifically, we propose that higher economic inequality leads to an independent self-construal, whereas lower economic inequality leads to an interdependent self-construal. Correlational data from Studies 1a and 1b revealed that people who perceive lower levels of economic inequality tend to show higher levels of interdependent self-construal, even after controlling for social class. In Study 2, using an experimental design, we found that perceived high economic inequality leads to a more independent and less interdependent self-construal compared to the low economic inequality condition. These results expand the literature bridging the gap between a macro-social factor, such as economic inequality, and a micro-social factor, such as self-construal.

© 2017 International Union of Psychological Science.

Keywords: Economic inequality; Independent; Interdependent; Self-construal; Social class

MeSH terms

• Female
• Humans
• Income / statistics & numerical data
• Male
• Perception / physiology
• Psychological Distance*
• Self Concept
• Socioeconomic Factors

Publication Types

• Journal Article

Grant support

• FPU-13/01231/Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport
• PSI2016-78839-P/Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness