The corrupting power of inequality: Social-psychological consequences, causes and solutions

This book chapter reviews diverse literatures bearing on the psychological consequences of economic inequality. These include work in sociology and public health on the correlates of inequality, research on game theory and social dilemmas, and social psychological analyses of ideology and identity. The chapter argues that that inequality is experienced as adverse or threatening social condition. In the current social and ideological climate, responses to inequality have a dilemmatic character. Psychological mechanisms that support "primary" coping mechanisms (opposing inequality) are at odds with those that support "secondary" coping mechanisms (coming to terms, emotionally and motivationally, with inequality).