‘The system is unfair’: Uncontrollable attributions for inequality predict more equitable giving in adolescents

Socioeconomic position is often determined by uncontrollable, structural factors, yet people from the United States tend to attribute wealth and poverty individual control. However, information about behavioural correlates of such beliefs across development relatively lacking. Thus, we examined adolescents' reasoning causes inequality in a sample 599 adolescents socioeconomically, ethnically, racially diverse middle school (grades 6–8). Additionally, early were presented with two novel groups an unexplained disparity given task which they could perpetuate or rectify inequality. We found that while tended give equitably inequality, this outcome was predicted type explanation gave for societal Furthermore, participants' socioeconomic status sexual identity their explanations. These results add our knowledge adolescent demonstrating potential link between attributions giving behaviour.