The Social Psychology of Inequality: Perceptions, Emotions, and Justifications In Turbulent Times
RC42 session · XXI ISA World Congress of Sociology, Gwangju 2027
This session examines how psychological mechanisms shape individuals’ interpretations of inequality across various nations during times of rapid social change. The organizers note a paradox: despite rising income inequality and declining intergenerational mobility — both of which suggest a diminishing role of individual merit — recent studies have documented a paradoxical rise in meritocratic beliefs around the world.
The session welcomes research addressing topics such as how perceptions and emotions reinforce or reduce inequalities; inequality reproduction through daily interactions; psychological justifications for disparities; development of unequal psychological resources; and how emerging technologies like AI influence responses to social disparities.
Organizer(s)/Chair(s):
- Hye Won Kwon, Ewha Womans University, South Korea
Host committee(s): RC42 Social Psychology
View this session on the ISA World Congress program