Abstract
Both giving and receiving money have emotional benefits, but when gifts of value are made in the context of socioeconomic differences, there might also be emotional costs. Four studies (and an internal meta-analysis) tested the idea that receiving a generous gift from someone higher in perceived socioeconomic status (SES) signals social identity threat. In Study 1 (N = 218), participants on average, but especially those with relatively lower SES, reported experiencing more self-conscious negative affect when receiving a generous amount of money (vs. an even split) from a higher status giver in a dictator game. This effect was mediated by feeling pitied by the giver. Studies 2 (N = 331) and 3 (N = 426) revealed similar effects with recalled real-world experiences of receiving a generous gift from higher SES givers. Studies 3 and 4 (N = 142) revealed evidence for serial mediation, with lower relative SES predicting status awareness, status awareness predicting attributions of pity, and attributions of pity in turn predicting self-conscious negative affect. Effects were not significantly moderated by needing or requesting the money, suggesting that acts of generosity across the status divide readily signal social devaluation for those with lower perceived status. Findings have practical and conceptual implications for prosocial giving in a system of social and economic inequality.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 98-114 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Journal of Experimental Social Psychology |
| Volume | 82 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2019 |
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Keywords
- Attributions
- Prosocial behavior
- Self-conscious emotion
- Social identity threat
- Socioeconomic status
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Sociology and Political Science
Cite this
A social identity threat perspective on being the target of generosity from a higher status other. / Sandstrom, Gillian M.; Schmader, Toni; Croft, Alyssa; Kwok, Navio.
In: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Vol. 82, 05.2019, p. 98-114.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - A social identity threat perspective on being the target of generosity from a higher status other
AU - Sandstrom, Gillian M.
AU - Schmader, Toni
AU - Croft, Alyssa
AU - Kwok, Navio
PY - 2019/5
Y1 - 2019/5
N2 - Both giving and receiving money have emotional benefits, but when gifts of value are made in the context of socioeconomic differences, there might also be emotional costs. Four studies (and an internal meta-analysis) tested the idea that receiving a generous gift from someone higher in perceived socioeconomic status (SES) signals social identity threat. In Study 1 (N = 218), participants on average, but especially those with relatively lower SES, reported experiencing more self-conscious negative affect when receiving a generous amount of money (vs. an even split) from a higher status giver in a dictator game. This effect was mediated by feeling pitied by the giver. Studies 2 (N = 331) and 3 (N = 426) revealed similar effects with recalled real-world experiences of receiving a generous gift from higher SES givers. Studies 3 and 4 (N = 142) revealed evidence for serial mediation, with lower relative SES predicting status awareness, status awareness predicting attributions of pity, and attributions of pity in turn predicting self-conscious negative affect. Effects were not significantly moderated by needing or requesting the money, suggesting that acts of generosity across the status divide readily signal social devaluation for those with lower perceived status. Findings have practical and conceptual implications for prosocial giving in a system of social and economic inequality.
AB - Both giving and receiving money have emotional benefits, but when gifts of value are made in the context of socioeconomic differences, there might also be emotional costs. Four studies (and an internal meta-analysis) tested the idea that receiving a generous gift from someone higher in perceived socioeconomic status (SES) signals social identity threat. In Study 1 (N = 218), participants on average, but especially those with relatively lower SES, reported experiencing more self-conscious negative affect when receiving a generous amount of money (vs. an even split) from a higher status giver in a dictator game. This effect was mediated by feeling pitied by the giver. Studies 2 (N = 331) and 3 (N = 426) revealed similar effects with recalled real-world experiences of receiving a generous gift from higher SES givers. Studies 3 and 4 (N = 142) revealed evidence for serial mediation, with lower relative SES predicting status awareness, status awareness predicting attributions of pity, and attributions of pity in turn predicting self-conscious negative affect. Effects were not significantly moderated by needing or requesting the money, suggesting that acts of generosity across the status divide readily signal social devaluation for those with lower perceived status. Findings have practical and conceptual implications for prosocial giving in a system of social and economic inequality.
KW - Attributions
KW - Prosocial behavior
KW - Self-conscious emotion
KW - Social identity threat
KW - Socioeconomic status
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85061242982&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jesp.2018.12.004
DO - 10.1016/j.jesp.2018.12.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85061242982
VL - 82
SP - 98
EP - 114
JO - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
JF - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
SN - 0022-1031
ER -