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Does Inequality Shape Human Character? Cross-Cultural Associations between Character Strengths and the Gini Index in 68 Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Nicole Casali

    (Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law)

  • Silvia Filippi

    (University of Padua)

  • Tommaso Feraco

    (University of Padova)

Abstract

Environmental factors are crucial in shaping individual characteristics. One key contextual factor is economic inequality, which is increasing in most OECD countries and negatively impacting individuals and societies, including personality traits. To date, no studies examined the relationship between economic inequality and positive personality traits such as character strengths. In a large cross-cultural study (N = 980,807, 68 countries) we investigated the relationship between country-level economic inequality and the level of the 24 character strengths. Across countries, we found consistent, robust evidence that economic inequality is positively linked to 22 character strengths, even after controlling for the Human Development Index, population density, urbanization, and climate of each country. On average, inequality explained 34% of the between-country variance in character strengths. Different alternative explanations for such unexpected effects, including increased competitiveness or resilience in the face of adversity, are discussed. Our research provides novel insights into the importance of environmental factors in shaping human character.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicole Casali & Silvia Filippi & Tommaso Feraco, 2024. "Does Inequality Shape Human Character? Cross-Cultural Associations between Character Strengths and the Gini Index in 68 Countries," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 1-17, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:25:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s10902-024-00751-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-024-00751-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. de Vries, Robert & Gosling, Samuel & Potter, Jeff, 2011. "Income inequality and personality: Are less equal U.S. states less agreeable?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(12), pages 1978-1985, June.
    2. Ryan M. Niemiec, 2020. "Six Functions of Character Strengths for Thriving at Times of Adversity and Opportunity: a Theoretical Perspective," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(2), pages 551-572, April.
    3. Friedrich M. Götz & Stefan Stieger & Samuel D. Gosling & Jeff Potter & Peter J. Rentfrow, 2020. "Physical topography is associated with human personality," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(11), pages 1135-1144, November.
    4. Cifuentes, Manuel & Sembajwe, Grace & Tak, SangWoo & Gore, Rebecca & Kriebel, David & Punnett, Laura, 2008. "The association of major depressive episodes with income inequality and the human development index," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(4), pages 529-539, August.
    5. Viechtbauer, Wolfgang, 2010. "Conducting Meta-Analyses in R with the metafor Package," Journal of Statistical Software, Foundation for Open Access Statistics, vol. 36(i03).
    6. Tommaso Feraco & Nicole Casali & Chiara Meneghetti & Samuel Greiff & Giorgia Cona, 2023. "Is Good Character All that Counts? A Comparison Between the Predictive Role of Specific Strengths and a General Factor of “Good Character” Using a Bifactor Model," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(7), pages 2353-2376, October.
    7. Wenqi Wei & Jackson G. Lu & Adam D. Galinsky & Han Wu & Samuel D. Gosling & Peter J. Rentfrow & Wenjie Yuan & Qi Zhang & Yongyu Guo & Ming Zhang & Wenjing Gui & Xiao-Yi Guo & Jeff Potter & Jian Wang &, 2017. "Regional ambient temperature is associated with human personality," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 1(12), pages 890-895, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tommaso Feraco & Nicole Casali, 2025. "20 Years of Character Strengths: A Bibliometric Review," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1-22, March.

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