Uploaded March 2015 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
"The Politics of Inequality and the Inequality of Politics" symposium took place at SPSP's 16th Annual Convention in Long Beach, California. This presentation is the fourth of four presentations in the symposium. The presentation is titled "The Tolerance of Inequality: Psychological Needs for Control and Social Hierarchies" given by Justin Friesen of York University.
Individuals often espouse egalitarian ideals, yet social hierarchies and their inherent inequality are ubiquitous in human societies. We propose that one reason this occurs is because hierarchies can fulfill psychological needs for structure and order that are elicited when personal control is low (Kay et al., 2008)—even for subordinate positions that lack power or status. In 4 studies we demonstrate that hierarchical inequality can compensate for low personal control via the structure it provides. After personal control threats, participants preferred more hierarchy in their own workplaces and found hierarchy-enhancing occupations more appealing. We also show that hierarchies are control-restoring: Being in a hierarchical workplace was associated with increased occupational certainty and self-efficacy. These effects occurred even for individuals in lower positions in the hierarchy. We discuss how disadvantaged individuals may be unwilling to question social hierarchies that justify inequality if those hierarchies are serving unmet psychological needs for structure.
"The Politics of Inequality and the Inequality of Politics" symposium took place at SPSP's 16th Annual Convention in Long Beach, California. This presentation is the fourth of four presentations in the symposium. The presentation is titled "The Tolerance of Inequality: Psychological Needs for Control and Social Hierarchies" given by Justin Friesen of York University.
Individuals often espouse egalitarian ideals, yet social hierarchies and their inherent inequality are ubiquitous in human societies. We propose that one reason this occurs is because hierarchies can fulfill psychological needs for structure and order that are elicited when personal control is low (Kay et al., 2008)—even for subordinate positions that lack power or status. In 4 studies we demonstrate that hierarchical inequality can compensate for low personal control via the structure it provides. After personal control threats, participants preferred more hierarchy in their own workplaces and found hierarchy-enhancing occupations more appealing. We also show that hierarchies are control-restoring: Being in a hierarchical workplace was associated with increased occupational certainty and self-efficacy. These effects occurred even for individuals in lower positions in the hierarchy. We discuss how disadvantaged individuals may be unwilling to question social hierarchies that justify inequality if those hierarchies are serving unmet psychological needs for structure.
