Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.3935/rsp.v21i3.1199

High Status Groups and Social Solidarity: Socio-Psychological Determinants of Support for Social Equality among the Highly-Educated

Ajana Löw Stanić orcid.org/0000-0001-8231-430X ; Odsjek za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Maša Tonković Grabovac ; Odsjek za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Svjetlana Salkičević ; Odsjek za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu

Abstract

The aim of the study was to predict support for social equality among individuals of high social status based on socio-psychological variables. The study was conducted on a sample of highly-educated Croatian citizens (N=332). The results confirmed the predicted hypotheses. Perception of higher social status instability, greater social inequality, larger potential for making social changes, and higher egalitarian values predict stronger support for social equality. Relation between status instability and equality support is partially mediated by perception of greater social inequality. Perception of material threat contributes to support for social equality both directly, by enhancing a motivation for ensuring own future, and indirectly, by evoking a perception that others have similar needs. The results provide an insight to unexplored determinants of social solidarity among high status groups and give some guidelines how to draw citizens’ attention to the importance of social support programs.

Keywords

support for social equality; status instability; social inequality; egalitarianism; high status groups

Hrčak ID:

131395

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/131395

Publication date:

18.12.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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