Subjective economic inequality evokes interpersonal objectification

Br J Soc Psychol. 2024 Mar 23. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12740. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTInterpersonal objectification, treating people as tools and neglecting their essential humanness, is a pervasive and enduring phenomenon. Across five studies (N = 1183), we examined whether subjective economic inequality increases objectification through a calculative mindset. Study 1 revealed that the perceptions of economic inequality at the national level and in daily life were positively associated with objectification. Studies 2 and 3 demonstrated a causal relationship between subjective economic inequality and objectification in a fictitious organization and society, respectively. Moreover, the effect was mediated by a calculative mindset (Studies 3-4). In addition, lowering a calculative mindset weakened the effect of subjective inequality on objectification (Study 4). Finally, increased objectification due to subjective inequality further decreased prosociality and enhanced exploitative intentions (Study 5). Taken together, our findings suggest that subjective economic inequality increases objectification, which further causes adverse interpersonal interactions.PMID:38520243 | DOI:10.1111/bjso.12740

Source: The British Journal of Social Psychology - March 23, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Lei Cheng Xijing Wang Jolanda Jetten Christoph Klebl Zifei Li Fang Wang Source Type: research