New research in Social Psychological and Personality Science identifies a widespread stereotype linking wealth to perceived trustworthiness across diverse cultures. The research, led by Mélusine Boon-Falleur from the Center for Research on Social Inequalities at Sciences Po in Paris, shows that individuals with fewer material resources are consistently viewed as less trustworthy.
The study, conducted across eight countries including Brazil, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, France, Nigeria, Philippines, and the United Kingdom, employed a novel method to uncover stereotypes while avoiding social desirability bias.
"People with fewer resources are consistently perceived to be less trustworthy by people around the world, even among individuals who have few resources themselves," states Dr. Boon-Falleur, summarizing the study's most significant finding.
This research contributes to the broader academic discussion by highlighting the importance of socioeconomic background in shaping stereotypes, alongside well-known demographic attributes such as gender, age, or race. It also emphasizes the need to consider both the characteristics of the person "doing the trusting" and the person being trusted when examining trust dynamics.
The implications of these findings are far-reaching. "By becoming aware of this stereotype, people may try to overcome this bias, or put in place programs in their organization to counteract this," Dr. Boon-Falleur explains. She adds, "For people with low SES backgrounds, realizing that they may be perceived as less trustworthy could explain certain attitudes or behaviors towards them."
In the context of current world events, the research suggests that deepening social inequalities in Western countries could lead to decreased social trust as poverty rates increase. It may also shed light on patterns of discrimination against certain migrant groups.
Dr. Boon-Falleur cautions against misinterpretation: "The main misrepresentation of these results would be to say that individuals with fewer resources are in fact less trustworthy rather than individuals with fewer resources are perceived to be less trustworthy. To date, there is no scientific evidence systematically showing that individuals with fewer resources are less trustworthy."
One of the most striking aspects of the study is the universality of these stereotypes. "Often, we tend to think that highly capitalist countries or only Western countries have negative stereotypes towards certain groups," Dr. Boon-Falleur notes. "However, what we found in our study was that in all countries surveyed, including in places such as Goma (Democratic Republic of Congo), such stereotypes also exist."
Future research will explore the malleability of these stereotypes and their potential behavioral implications. The study's findings open new avenues for understanding and addressing socioeconomic biases in interpersonal trust on a global scale.
