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The Interrelations Between Social Class, Personal Relative Deprivation, and Prosociality.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Callan, Mitchell J 
Kim, Hyunji 
Gheorghiu, Ana I 
Matthews, William J 

Abstract

We propose that personal relative deprivation (PRD)-the belief that one is worse off than similar others-plays a key role in the link between social class and prosociality. Across multiple samples and measures (total N = 2,233), people higher in PRD were less inclined to help others. When considered in isolation, neither objective nor subjective socioeconomic status (SES) was meaningfully associated with prosociality. However, because people who believe themselves to be at the top of the socioeconomic hierarchy are typically low in PRD, these variables act as mutual suppressors-the predictive validity of both is enhanced when they are considered simultaneously, revealing that both higher subjective SES and higher PRD are associated with lower prosociality. These results cast new light on the complex connections between relative social status and people's willingness to act for the benefit of others.

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Keywords

personal relative deprivation, prosocial behavior, prosocial beliefs, social class, socioeconomic status

Journal Title

Soc Psychol Personal Sci

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1948-5506
1948-5514

Volume Title

Publisher

SAGE Publications
Sponsorship
This research was supported by Grant RPG-2013-148 from the Leverhulme Trust and studentship ES/J500045/1 from the Economic and Social Research Council.