The Role of Individuating Information in Coping with Systemic Inequality

In this paper, we reviewed research about social selection and interpersonal perceptions in crossclass interactions, aiming to suggest potential strategies for combatting systemic inequality. We focused on the role of individuating information in interpersonal perceptions, especially its impacts on cross-class social selection and resource exchange. In the first part, we introduced how systemic inequality has emerged and maintained for decades. Overcoming status homophily may play an essential role in reducing inequality. We then reviewed empirical literature probing for interpersonal perceptions under inequality. Although social category information in interpersonal perceptions is associated with an individual’s homophilous preference, individuating information could reduce stereotypical perceptions derived from social category information. Grounded in these findings, we assume that cooperativeness-based preference in the presence of individuating information can facilitate meritocratic social selections in cross-class interactions. In conclusion, future studies should clarify effective strategies for coping with systemic inequality tailored for the upper and lower classes. A mediating mechanism between the individuating information effect and the reduction of inequality is expected to be discussed in future research.