Lab in Psychology of Economic Inequality

Catalog description

Economic inequality, both within and between nations, has increased steadily since the early 1980s, reaching unprecedented levels during the Covid-19 pandemic (Oxfam, 2022). The fast-growing scientific literature on the psychology of economic inequality documents the substantial detrimental consequences for society, including higher rates of physical, mental, and social problems, increased status competition, and reduced social cohesion, trust, life satisfaction and happiness. The consequences of economic inequality are particularly severe for lower-class individuals, as inequality reduces cognitive resources needed for rational decision-making, thus rendering individuals less capable of coping with daily needs. In this seminar course we will examine the recent psychological literature on the antecedents and consequences of economic inequality and analyze social class differences in personality, motivation and cognition. We will also identify the reasons why people often don't engage in collective action to change the situation and why some redistribution strategies are more likely to be endorsed than others.