Where Does the Money Come From? Humanizing High Socioeconomic Status Groups Undermines Attitudes Toward Redistribution
The concentration of wealth in the hands of a few at the expense of general impoverishment is a major problem in some modern societies. However, there is a general opposition to redistribution policies or to the application of a progressive taxation system. The goal of this research was to explore o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00771/full |
| _version_ | 1819211486558420992 |
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| author | Mario Sainz Mario Sainz Rocío Martínez Rosa Rodríguez-Bailón Miguel Moya |
| author_facet | Mario Sainz Mario Sainz Rocío Martínez Rosa Rodríguez-Bailón Miguel Moya |
| author_sort | Mario Sainz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The concentration of wealth in the hands of a few at the expense of general impoverishment is a major problem in some modern societies. However, there is a general opposition to redistribution policies or to the application of a progressive taxation system. The goal of this research was to explore one factor that might drive the attitudes toward income redistribution: The (de)humanization of high socioeconomic status groups. Previous studies have shown that high socioeconomic status groups tend to be considered as unemotional machines without any concern for others. However, the consequences of mechanizing (vs. humanizing) high socioeconomic status on the interpretation of socioeconomic differences has not been explored yet. We considered that humanizing high socioeconomic status groups might have an unexpected negative effect on attitudes about income inequality and wealth concentration. Specifically, this research aims to determine how humanizing high socioeconomic status groups influences people’s perceptions of the group’s wealth and preferences for income redistribution. We conducted two studies in which we manipulated the humanity (mechanized vs. humanized in terms of their Human Nature traits) of a high socioeconomic status group. Results of these two studies showed that humanizing (vs. mechanizing) high socioeconomic status groups led to lower support for income redistribution/taxation of wealthy groups, through considering that the group’s wealth comes from internal sources (e.g., ambition) rather than external ones (e.g., corruption). These results were independent of the group’s likeability and perceived competence/warmth. The present research provides valuable insight about the possible dark side of humanizing high socioeconomic status groups as a process that could contribute to the maintenance of the status quo and the legitimation of income inequality in our societies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T06:27:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9cf08d90436d4165aa9f884e1ad733d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T06:27:50Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9cf08d90436d4165aa9f884e1ad733d02022-12-21T17:57:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782019-03-011010.3389/fpsyg.2019.00771441172Where Does the Money Come From? Humanizing High Socioeconomic Status Groups Undermines Attitudes Toward RedistributionMario Sainz0Mario Sainz1Rocío Martínez2Rosa Rodríguez-Bailón3Miguel Moya4Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center, Department of Social Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, SpainSchool of Psychology, University of Monterrey, Nuevo Léon, MexicoDepartment of Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, SpainDepartment of Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, SpainDepartment of Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, SpainThe concentration of wealth in the hands of a few at the expense of general impoverishment is a major problem in some modern societies. However, there is a general opposition to redistribution policies or to the application of a progressive taxation system. The goal of this research was to explore one factor that might drive the attitudes toward income redistribution: The (de)humanization of high socioeconomic status groups. Previous studies have shown that high socioeconomic status groups tend to be considered as unemotional machines without any concern for others. However, the consequences of mechanizing (vs. humanizing) high socioeconomic status on the interpretation of socioeconomic differences has not been explored yet. We considered that humanizing high socioeconomic status groups might have an unexpected negative effect on attitudes about income inequality and wealth concentration. Specifically, this research aims to determine how humanizing high socioeconomic status groups influences people’s perceptions of the group’s wealth and preferences for income redistribution. We conducted two studies in which we manipulated the humanity (mechanized vs. humanized in terms of their Human Nature traits) of a high socioeconomic status group. Results of these two studies showed that humanizing (vs. mechanizing) high socioeconomic status groups led to lower support for income redistribution/taxation of wealthy groups, through considering that the group’s wealth comes from internal sources (e.g., ambition) rather than external ones (e.g., corruption). These results were independent of the group’s likeability and perceived competence/warmth. The present research provides valuable insight about the possible dark side of humanizing high socioeconomic status groups as a process that could contribute to the maintenance of the status quo and the legitimation of income inequality in our societies.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00771/fullhumanizationmechanizationhigh socioeconomic status groupsattributions of wealthincome redistribution |
| spellingShingle | Mario Sainz Mario Sainz Rocío Martínez Rosa Rodríguez-Bailón Miguel Moya Where Does the Money Come From? Humanizing High Socioeconomic Status Groups Undermines Attitudes Toward Redistribution Frontiers in Psychology humanization mechanization high socioeconomic status groups attributions of wealth income redistribution |
| title | Where Does the Money Come From? Humanizing High Socioeconomic Status Groups Undermines Attitudes Toward Redistribution |
| title_full | Where Does the Money Come From? Humanizing High Socioeconomic Status Groups Undermines Attitudes Toward Redistribution |
| title_fullStr | Where Does the Money Come From? Humanizing High Socioeconomic Status Groups Undermines Attitudes Toward Redistribution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Where Does the Money Come From? Humanizing High Socioeconomic Status Groups Undermines Attitudes Toward Redistribution |
| title_short | Where Does the Money Come From? Humanizing High Socioeconomic Status Groups Undermines Attitudes Toward Redistribution |
| title_sort | where does the money come from humanizing high socioeconomic status groups undermines attitudes toward redistribution |
| topic | humanization mechanization high socioeconomic status groups attributions of wealth income redistribution |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00771/full |
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