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Is Support for Redistribution Flexible to Perceptions of Inequality? The Effect of Inequality Frames and Self-Affirmation

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Date

2023

Authors

Delaveau, Bethany

Supervisor

Wood, Jay
Landhuis, Erik

Item type

Thesis

Degree name

Master of Arts in Psychology

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Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

Perceptions of inequality are complex, related to motivations and ideological beliefs that are thought to predict how people wish to rectify inequalities (e.g., through support for redistribution). Inequality is comparative, which means that information about inequality can be framed or described as some being better off (privileged) or worse off (disadvantaged) than others. The research is mixed as to whether a privilege or disadvantage frame leads to more support for redistribution. However, it is understood that privilege is more threatening and may have the potential to steer individuals away from rectifying inequalities. Self-affirmation has been shown to reduce defensive responses to threat and is applied in this study to assess its influence on support for redistribution. This study also uses framing to compare responses to inequality and assess whether redistribution is supported more when the focus is on privilege or disadvantage. This study was conducted using an online questionnaire, recruiting participants from New Zealand (N = 214). It was hypothesised that a focus on privilege would increase support for redistribution, and this was marginally supported. It was also predicted that self-affirmation would reduce support for redistribution across different frames. This was not supported, but self-affirmation did influence perceptions of inequality and opinions of taxation across frames. It was also found that ideological beliefs were associated with perceptions of inequality and support for redistribution – as expected. These findings may have implications for policy and framing and inequity research in the future.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10292/16326

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