Leiden University Student Repository

Haverkorn van Rijsewijk, Julia (2024)

The Influence of Economic Mobility Perceptions on Redistributive Behavior: The Mediating Role of Attributions

Master thesis | Psychology (MSc)

Upward mobility perceptions contribute to the acceptance of high economic inequality rates, so it becomes important to understand how mobility perceptions relate to redistributive behavior. Previous research indicates a negative relationship between perceived economic mobility and redistributive behavior. Additionally, it was suggested that this relationship might be partially explained by the orientation of attributions about one’s socioeconomic position. The current experimental study (N = 301), consisting of a two-by-two, between-subjects design, aims to contribute to this by investigating the mediating effects of internal attribution. The findings indicate that internal attributions were not associated with mobility perceptions, nor did they indirectly influence the relationship between mobility perceptions and redistributive behavior. However, the findings did indicate a direct positive relationship between mobility perceptions and redistributive behavior. Because this was...Show moreUpward mobility perceptions contribute to the acceptance of high economic inequality rates, so it becomes important to understand how mobility perceptions relate to redistributive behavior. Previous research indicates a negative relationship between perceived economic mobility and redistributive behavior. Additionally, it was suggested that this relationship might be partially explained by the orientation of attributions about one’s socioeconomic position. The current experimental study (N = 301), consisting of a two-by-two, between-subjects design, aims to contribute to this by investigating the mediating effects of internal attribution. The findings indicate that internal attributions were not associated with mobility perceptions, nor did they indirectly influence the relationship between mobility perceptions and redistributive behavior. However, the findings did indicate a direct positive relationship between mobility perceptions and redistributive behavior. Because this was contrary to what was expected, the study provides the understanding that the relationship between mobility perceptions and redistributive behavior should be cautiously assumed.Show less

perceived economic mobility, attributions, redistributive behavior

Author

Haverkorn van Rijsewijk, Julia

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Economic and Consumer Psychology

Supervisors

Leticia Rettore Micheli

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en