The social psychology of Citizens Basic Income

Chapter 7 on social psychology describes how unconditional benefits and services prevent the formation of distinct groups that develop social norms in opposition to each other. The reciprocity norm is explored, and how a Citizen’s Basic Income would facilitate a just reciprocity; and the chapter recognises that the deeply embedded deserving/undeserving discourse would need to be circumvented. The chapter finds that how Citizen’s Basic Income is framed influences its acceptability; that a Citizen’s Basic Income would not impose the stigma that means-tested benefits impose; that a group with a consistent message but flexible approach can persuade an initially opposed majority; and that implementation of a Citizen’s Basic Income would alter social and political attitudes and behaviour. A final case study finds inequality, welfare regime type, and national self-concept, to be correlated with each other, and that a Citizen’s Basic Income would reduce income inequality and improve our self-concepts.