Featured interview in Psychologie Heute

In an interview with Psychologie Heute, Dr. Simone Schneider discussed her research on perceptions of inequality, highlighting the importance of perceptual biases and social attitudes for our overall wellbeing. The conversation sheds light on the critical role these perceptions play in fostering more content societies.

Key Highlights from the Interview:

• While many perceive it as unjust that the CEO of a major corporation earns 53 times more than the average employee, calls for equal pay are rare.
• Wealthier individuals often attribute poverty to personal failings, while those with lower incomes also highlight systemic issues like discrimination and lack of opportunity. Interestingly, we can simultaneously hold conflicting views on the causes of poverty, acknowledging both structural and individual factors.
• Our perceptions of our own socio-economic status are often shaped by our social environment; for instance, individuals in more unequal societies, such as the UK, tend to view themselves as lower in the social hierarchy compared to those in more equal societies like Denmark.
• The people we interact with can significantly shape our understanding of income inequality, often leading us to underestimate the wealth of the richest due to limited exposure to diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Our perception of social justice can play a crucial role for our overall life satisfaction. We tend to feel more content when we believe we are receiving what they deserve, and when societal disparities align with our notions of fairness.
• Recognising the structural causes of inequality is essential for fostering a collective willingness to address these issues in the public debate and hold policymakers accountable for creating a more equal and fair society.