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Article
2026
Framing inequality as advantage versus disadvantage: a systematic review of effects and a two-step model to explain them
Framing inequality as advantage versus disadvantage: a systematic review of effects and a two-step model to explain them
Abstract
Although disadvantage and advantage jointly make up inequality, inequality is often one-sidedly framed as disadvantage. Concurrently, efforts to raise awareness for advantages are growing. Many studies have examined whether and how it matters if inequality is framed as advantage or disadvantage. However, empirical and conceptual integration of this work is lacking. For empirical integration, we systematically reviewed 71 experimental studies in 36 documents ( n = 20,063). These investigated many different variables, but often only once, or with inconsistent findings. Framing manipulations varied in ways that could bias effects. Summarizing consistent effects, we conclude that framing can influence how people perceive and react to inequality, but this is contingent on moderators. For conceptual integration, we developed a two-step model, which defines (dis)advantage frames and aims to explain why (Step 1) and how (Step 2) they influence which variables, to help this exciting research field move forward in a more systematic way.
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Personality and social psychology review, 30 (2026), 1, 55-82.
https://doi.org/10.1177/10888683251333458.
ISSN: 1532-7957
ISSN: 1088-8683
Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA : SAGE Publications
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Malapally, A., Methner, N., Braun, M., Wittenborn, S., & Bruckmüller, S. (2026). Framing inequality as advantage versus disadvantage: a systematic review of effects and a two-step model to explain them. Personality and social psychology review, 30(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/10888683251333458
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English
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300 Social sciences, sociology, and anthropology
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Sustainable Development Goals
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@article{Malapally2026,
doi = {10.1177/10888683251333458},
author = {Malapally, Annette and Methner, Nicole and Braun, Maike et al.},
title = {Framing inequality as advantage versus disadvantage: a systematic review of effects and a two-step model to explain them},
journal = {Personality and Social Psychology Review},
year = {2026},
volume = {30},
number = {1},
pages = {55--82},
}