Social comparison, personal relative deprivation, and materialism. (23rd November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Hyunji; Callan, Mitchell J.; Gheorghiu, Ana I.; Matthews, William J.
• Other Names: Vaes Jeroen guestEditor.; Loughnan Steve guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: British journal of social psychology. Volume 56:Part 2(2017:Jun.)
• Page Start: 373
• Page End: 392
• Publication Date: 2016-11-23
• Subjects: social comparison -- personal relative deprivation -- materialism -- consumer behaviour -- social status; Social psychology -- Periodicals; 302.05
• DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12176
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-6665

Abstract

Abstract : Across five studies, we found consistent evidence for the idea that personal relative deprivation (PRD), which refers to resentment stemming from the belief that one is deprived of deserved outcomes compared to others, uniquely contributes to materialism. In Study 1, self‐reports of PRD positively predicted materialistic values over and above socioeconomic status, personal power, self‐esteem, and emotional uncertainty. The experience of PRD starts with social comparison, and Studies 2 and 3 found that PRD mediated the positive relation between a tendency to make social comparisons of abilities and materialism. In Study 4, participants who learned that they had less (vs. similar) discretionary income than people like them reported a stronger desire for more money relative to donating more to charity. In Study 5, during a windfall‐spending task, participants higher in PRD spent more on things they wanted relative to other spending categories (e.g., paying off debts).