Vries, Nynke de (2025) How friends and colleagues influence your perception of wealth inequality. Bachelor thesis, Sociology.
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Abstract
Perceptions of wealth inequality are not solely determined by objective economic indicators, but are deeply shaped by individuals’ social environments and psychological predispositions. This study investigates the extent to which an individual’s current social circumstances influence their perception of wealth inequality in the Netherlands. Drawing on theories of reference group comparison and system justification, the research explores three key factors: the educational homogeneity of one's social and professional networks, exposure to people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, and self-placement on the social ladder. Data were obtained from the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences (LISS) panel, a nationally representative dataset, comprising 1,605 respondents. Through a series of logistic and linear regression analyses, the study examined whether and how these variables predict individuals’ views on wealth inequality. While the degree of educational homogeneity in friendships and workplaces was hypothesized to affect inequality perception, the findings indicate that this factor is not a significant predictor. Instead, the results show that individuals who report greater exposure to both poorer and wealthier people are significantly more likely to perceive wealth inequality as a serious issue. Additionally, those who place themselves lower on the social ladder also tend to report stronger perceptions of inequality, consistent with system justification theory. These findings suggest that subjective experiences—especially social exposure and perceived social status—play a more substantial role in shaping how people understand economic disparities than the structural composition of their social networks alone. The study contributes to broader sociological debates on the social construction of inequality and highlights the importance of addressing experiential and psychological factors when developing public policy and inequality awareness campaigns.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Supervisor name: | Redhead, D.J. |
| Degree programme: | Sociology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Sociology] |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Jul 2025 13:33 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Jul 2025 13:33 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5335 |
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