1.1.4 Psychology of Social and Economic Inequality
Elena Agadullina
Project Leader (2020-2022)
Irina Prusova
Project Leader (2023-2025)
Project period
2020-2025
Context of Research Project within a Subject of Human Capital
Inequality plays a significant role in the formation and growth of human capital. The study of social and economic inequality, as well as ways to reduce them, is an important direction for the sustainable development of Russia in the era of global social, economic and political changes.
Theoretical and applied results obtained within the framework of the scientific project Psychology of Social and Economic Inequality will contribute to increasing the possibility of an effective response of the Russian society to the challenges associated with the interaction of people and social institutions. Reducing the level of social and economic inequality contributes to a number of positive processes for the development of human potential, including solving the problem of the shortage of highly qualified employees, stimulating the creation of innovative enterprises and startups, increasing the participation of the older generation in social life. In addition, the decrease in the level of social and economic inequality is closely related to the fall in the number of cases of domestic violence, ethnic or religious violence and work conflicts.
Project Aim
Studying subjective (psychological) factors of perception and maintenance of social inequality and their role in a wide range of social behavior
Project Objectives:
- Analyzing subjective (psychological) factors of perception and maintenance of inequality, comparison of their contribution to the perception and maintenance of inequality
- Developing an effective tool for measuring perceived inequality
- Assessing the contribution of subjective (psychological) factors of perception and maintenance to various forms of collective behavior, as well as to the willingness to justify and/or demonstrate violence at the interpersonal and intergroup levels
- Creating a model of interaction between objective and subjective (psychological) factors of perception and maintenance of the role of this interaction in social behavior
Key Findings
2020
It has been studied how the theory of justification of the system explains the rationalization of the existing status quo in the field of inequality, the factors of justification of the system within which the existing social inequality was formed have been highlighted.
2021
A theoretical analysis of the role of psychological factors in justifying and maintaining gender inequality in society has been carried out. Methods of assessing perceived inequality have been classified, recommendations for conducting social research aimed at studying the perception of inequality have been developed.
2022
The contribution of subjective (psychological) factors of perception and maintenance of inequality to various forms of collective behavior has been studied: it has been revealed that the justification of the system, which contributes to the maintenance and legitimization of the existing level of inequality, makes a significant contribution to social cohesion at the micro level (relations between individuals), meso-level (relations between individuals and groups) and macro level (the relationship between individuals and social institutions).
An empirical model for assessing the contribution of system justification to social cohesion
Educational Programs
Study Course Psychology of Social Inequality
Publication
Agadullina E. et al. (2022) Ambivalent sexism and violence toward women: A meta-analysis //European Journal of Social Psychology. – 2022. – Т. 52. – №. 5-6. – P. 819-859. doi
Conferences
International Scientific Conference Ananyev Readings (RU) (Saint-Petersburg, Russia, October 19-22, 2021): Agadullina E. The Ordinariness of Inequality: Why Don't People Support Egalitarianism? (10/21/2021)
International Conference on Inequality and Diversity (Saint-Petersburg, Russia, November 11-13, 2021): Agadullina E., Lovakov A. Sexism with Violence: Results of Meta-Analysis (11/13/2021)