Affiliation:
1. Department of Psychology University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Buffalo New York USA
2. Department of Psychology Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
3. Carlson School of Management University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
4. American Psychological Association Washington District of Columbia USA
Abstract
AbstractIn the present research, we propose that perceptions of social mobility (PSM) are beneficial for oneself but costly to others. Supporting this idea, people who were led to think that social mobility in society is probable (vs. improbable) (Study 1a/b, N = 754; Study 3a/b, N = 938) or held this belief at a dispositional level (Study 2a/b, N = 877) showed greater endorsement of system justifying beliefs, which was related to greater happiness and life satisfaction. However, the more people perceived social mobility and justified the system, the less willing they were to help others in need, and this was especially true for those who thought the current economic system was fair and legitimate. Thus, while greater perceived social mobility is related to increased personal well‐being through justification of the sociopolitical system, it predicts less desire to help others due to increased support of the economic status quo.
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