Existing research shows a strong correlation between family income and individual socioeconomic success. Children from wealthier families are more likely to achieve high-paying jobs and college graduation, regardless of talent level, compared to their lower-income counterparts. This disparity, often highlighted in media, raises the question of how people judge the *deservingness* of success when achieved by individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds. This research addresses two objectives: (1) to investigate how deserving people perceive the same socioeconomic success when achieved by individuals from higher versus lower-income families; and (2) to explore the behavioral consequences of these judgments. The study's timing is particularly relevant given the increasing prejudice against the wealthy. By understanding the interpersonal judgments of success deservingness, we can gain insight into the roots of this prejudice. Seven preregistered studies leverage the existing literature, showing diverse inferences drawn about individuals based on their socioeconomic status, to document how deservingness judgments of the same socioeconomic success vary systematically for individuals from higher versus lower-income families. These findings extend research on the consequences of social class stereotypes, contribute to socio-political discourse about deservingness, and highlight the potential for biased support based on family background.

Previous research reveals contrasting public perceptions of the wealthy and the poor. While the poor are often judged negatively (lazy, violent), the wealthy are viewed more positively (competent, hardworking). This aligns with attribution theory, suggesting that perceived self-reliance—reliance on one's resources and skills—influences judgments of deservingness. Economic success is usually attributed to individual capabilities rather than external factors. In societies valuing social mobility, such as the United States, self-reliance is strongly linked to deservingness. However, this research explores the possibility that judgments of self-reliance might be subjective and influenced by the individual's family background. Recent studies indicate that the same behavior is judged differently depending on socioeconomic status. This study demonstrates that achieving the same socioeconomic success results in different judgments of self-reliance between individuals from higher and lower-income families, even when effort is a significant factor, leading to a double standard in evaluating success.

Seven preregistered studies were conducted using participants from the United States, recruited through Amazon's Mechanical Turk and Prolific Academic. These platforms are frequently used for studying public opinions. The studies employed experimental paradigms where participants were presented with information about fictitious successful individuals from various fields (business, sports, medicine, art). These individuals were described as coming from either a higher- or lower-income family. Studies 1 and 2 measured deservingness judgments of success across different income backgrounds. Study 3 focused on self-reliance judgments, while Study 4 investigated the relationship between self-reliance and deservingness judgments while manipulating success attribution (external vs. internal). Studies 5A-5C explored behavioral consequences by assessing participants' willingness to provide support (financial or otherwise) to successful individuals from different income backgrounds facing similar challenges (economic downturn, career achievements). Demographic data (age, gender) were collected in all studies. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and ANOVAs, were used to analyze the data. A mediation analysis, employing PROCESS Model 4 (Hayes, 2012), was conducted to determine the indirect effect of family background on success deservingness through self-reliance judgments. A moderated mediation analysis using PROCESS Model 7 (Hayes, 2012) was also performed to explore the role of success attribution as a potential moderator.

Study 1 established that the same business success was deemed less deserving for individuals from higher-income families compared to lower-income families (t(200) = −6.62, p < 0.001, d = −0.93). Study 2 replicated this finding in a sports context, showing a similar effect (t(197) = −4.05, p < 0.001, d = −0.58). Study 3 demonstrated that individuals achieving the same success were perceived as less self-reliant when coming from a higher-income family (t(198) = −6.48, p < 0.001, d = −0.92). Study 4 confirmed that success deservingness was linked to perceived self-reliance. Crucially, even when success was attributed to individual effort, individuals from higher-income families were still seen as less self-reliant and their success less deserving. The mediation analysis in Study 4 revealed a significant indirect effect of family background on success deservingness through self-reliance judgments (b = -0.43, 95% CI [-0.61, -0.26]). Studies 5A-5C revealed behavioral consequences: Participants were less likely to support individuals from higher-income families compared to lower-income families, even when facing similar economic hardship or achieving comparable career success. This difference in support provision was significant across all three studies (Study 5A: χ²(1) = 17.66, p < 0.001; Study 5B: χ²(1) = 9.82, p = 0.002; Study 5C: χ²(1) = 12.51, p < 0.001). Effect sizes across studies 1-4 were generally medium to large.

The findings address the research question by demonstrating a clear bias in deservingness judgments based on family income. Individuals from higher-income families, even when achieving success through their own effort, are judged as less self-reliant and consequently, their success is deemed less deserving. This bias is not simply due to assumptions about reliance on family resources; instead, it reflects a double standard in evaluating self-reliance depending on family background. The behavioral consequences show a significant impact on support decisions, indicating that family background influences judgments of deservingness and resource allocation. The research contributes to the understanding of prejudice against the wealthy, social class stereotypes, and the complexities of deservingness judgments, which are often influenced by factors beyond an individual’s control. These findings have significant implications for social policy and resource allocation, suggesting a need for careful consideration of potential biases.

This research makes several key contributions. First, it adds to the understanding of prejudice against the wealthy and the broader consequences of social class stereotypes. Second, it enhances the understanding of deservingness by revealing the influence of factors outside individual control (family background). Third, it highlights the behavioral consequences of these biases on support decisions. Future research should explore cultural variations in these judgments, examine deservingness in contexts where skill and resource requirements for success are minimal, and investigate how these judgments extend to situations of failure. Addressing these limitations will lead to a more nuanced understanding of how social class stereotypes shape perceptions of deservingness and influence resource allocation.

This study primarily focuses on participants from the United States, a culture that highly values individual autonomy and responsibility. The findings might not generalize to other cultures with different social norms and beliefs about individual agency. The study focuses on situations where individuals have already achieved success; future research should explore whether similar biases exist in evaluating failure. Lastly, the study primarily examines deservingness judgments within specific career contexts; broader contexts and achievements need to be further investigated to enhance the generalizability of the study’s conclusions.