Inequalities in Personal Possessions: Explanations for and Judgments about Unequal Distribution

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Abstract
Concepts about and evaluations of the unequal distribution of personal possessions were studied to map the dimensions of explanations for the existence of unequal distribution and judgments or evaluations of inequality. Americans (150), 30 at each of 5 age levels (kindergarten, 2nd, 5th, and 11th grades and 40-50 yr old adults) and Israelis (120), 60 from the kibbutz and 60 from the city (in each case, 30 kindergarteners and 30 5th graders) were interviewed. A content analysis was performed on the interview responses. The general developmental trend in explanations for the existence of unequal distribution was for differential amounts of money and differential preferences and needs to be frequent explanations at all ages, differential acquisition explanations to become increasingly active in nature (e.g., working, earning) and an increasing recognition that unequal distribution is due to circumstances beyond the individual''s control. The main cultural difference in reasons given for unequal distribution occurred for 5th graders, where both Israeli groups mentioned differential work and achievement as a major reason for the existence of inequality, whereas this reason was not frequent among Americans until older age levels. The youngest 2 age levels had difficulty making any evaluative statements at all, but those few they made tended to be negative. High school students and 5th graders also judged unequal distribution more negatively than positively and only the adults gave as many positive as negative evaluations. A greater number of kibbutz children stated explicitly that they were indifferent to unequal distribution. Results apparently reflect different experiential histories with inequality.

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