Subjective Status Shapes Political Preferences

Brown-Iannuzzi, Jazmin L.; Lundberg, Kristjen B.; Kay, Aaron C.; Payne, B. Keith

doi:10.1177/0956797614553947

Cited by 234Social and Intergroup PsychologySocial Power and Status DynamicsSocial Policy and Reform Studies

Subjective Status Shapes Political Preferences

Brown-Iannuzzi, Jazmin L., Lundberg, Kristjen B., Kay, Aaron C., Payne, B. Keith·2015·Psychological Science

DOI 10.1177/0956797614553947

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Abstract

Economic inequality in America is at historically high levels. Although most Americans indicate that they would prefer greater equality, redistributive policies aimed at reducing inequality are frequently unpopular. Traditional accounts posit that attitudes toward redistribution are driven by economic self-interest or ideological principles. From a social psychological perspective, however, we expected that subjective comparisons with other people may be a more relevant basis for self-interest than is material wealth. We hypothesized that participants would support redistribution more when they felt low than when they felt high in subjective status, even when actual resources and self-interest were held constant. Moreover, we predicted that people would legitimize these shifts in policy attitudes by appealing selectively to ideological principles concerning fairness. In four studies, we found correlational (Study 1) and experimental (Studies 2–4) evidence that subjective status motivates shifts in support for redistributive policies along with the ideological principles that justify them.

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Subjective status is correlated with support for redistributive policies.
“Brown‐Iannuzzi, Lundberg, Kay, and Payne (2015) have shown that subjective status is correlated with support for redistributive policies”
From The psychology of social class: How socioeconomic status impacts thought, feelings, and behaviour (2018) · cites this paper as Brown‐Iannuzzi, Lundberg, Kay, and Payne (2015)
Experimentally altering subjective status leads to changes in support for redistributive policies.
“and that experimentally altering subjective status leads to changes in such support.”
From The psychology of social class: How socioeconomic status impacts thought, feelings, and behaviour (2018) · cites this paper as Brown‐Iannuzzi, Lundberg, Kay, and Payne (2015)
Lower subjective status is associated with stronger support for redistribution, even when actual resources and self-interest are held constant.
“In both cases, lower subjective status was associated with stronger support for redistribution, even when actual resources and self‐interest were held constant.”
From The psychology of social class: How socioeconomic status impacts thought, feelings, and behaviour (2018) · cites this paper as Brown‐Iannuzzi, Lundberg, Kay, and Payne (2015)

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Authors: Brown-Iannuzzi, J. L., Lundberg, K. B., Kay, A. C., & Payne, B. K.
Affiliations: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
Duke University (US)
ORCID: Brown-Iannuzzi, Jazmin L.
Lundberg, Kristjen B.
Kay, Aaron C.
Payne, B. Keith
Venue: Psychological Science
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2014-11-21
Volume: 26
Issue: 1
Pages: 15-26
ISSN: 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
1467-9280
DOI: 10.1177/0956797614553947
OpenAlex: W2098662075
Cited by: 234
References: 44
Citations by year: 2026: 13 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 4
FWCI: 36.91
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: Russell Sage Foundation
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Social Policy and Reform Studies
Keywords: subjective social status, redistribution, economic inequality, political preferences, self-interest, ideology, fairness, social comparison, policy attitudes
MeSH terms: Adult, Attitude, Female, Humans, Male, Politics, Public Policy, Social Class, United States

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Subjective Status Shapes Political Preferences

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