New research identifies a widespread stereotype linking wealth with confidence, a common perception across cultures. The study, led by Mélusine Boon-Falleur of the Center for Research on Social Inequalities at Sciences Po in Paris (France), shows that people with fewer material resources are consistently perceived as less trustworthy.
The study was published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.
The study, conducted in eight countries including Brazil, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, France, Nigeria, the Philippines and the United Kingdom, used an innovative method to reveal stereotypes, thus avoiding influences that could affect the honesty of responses.
“People with fewer resources are consistently perceived as less trustworthy around the world, even by those who have few resources,” says Dr. Boon-Falleur, summarizing the most important finding of the study.
People with fewer resources are perceived as untrustworthy
This research makes a valuable contribution to the wider academic discussion by highlighting the role of socio-economic context in the formation of stereotypes alongside well-known characteristics such as gender, age or race. It also highlights the need to consider both the trustor’s and the truster’s traits for a more complex understanding of trust dynamics.
The implications of these findings are profound. “By becoming aware of this stereotype, people could try to overcome this prejudice or implement programs in their organization to combat it,” explains Dr. Boon-Falleur.
“For people from low socio-economic backgrounds, the realization that they might be perceived as less trustworthy may explain certain attitudes or behaviors shown towards them,” she adds, cited by Phys.org.
A decline in social trust
In the context of current world events, the study suggests that deepening social inequalities in Western countries could lead to a decline in social trust as the poverty rate increases. This research could also provide insight into the pattern of discrimination against some migrant groups.
Dr. Boon-Falleur cautions against possible misinterpretation of the results. “A misreading would be to say that people with fewer resources are actually less trustworthy, rather than understanding that they are perceived as such. To date, there is no scientific evidence that systematically shows that people with fewer resources are less trustworthy,” the researcher emphasizes.
One of the most surprising aspects of the study is the universality of these stereotypes. “Often, we tend to think that only capitalist countries or only Western countries have negative stereotypes towards certain groups,” notes Dr. Boon-Falleur.
“However, our study showed that these stereotypes exist in all the countries studied, including places like Goma (Democratic Republic of Congo),” she says.
Future research will explore the flexibility of these stereotypes and their potential behavioral implications. The study results open new directions for understanding and addressing socioeconomic biases in interpersonal trust on a global scale.
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Source: www.descopera.ro
