A path out of the competitive victimhood trap
- Nurit Shnabel
- Jul 2
- 1 min read
In a brilliant target article in Psychological Inquiry, titled Beyond Identity: A Framework for the Study of Social Inequalities and Social Change, Simone Sebben and Johannes Ullrich (UZH) put forward a novel framework for conceptualizing and studying social inequality. This framework emphasizes the importance of contextualizing issues related to inequality between identity groups (e.g., men and women, ethnic minority and majority) by considering societal "fundamental inequality" (i.e., inequality between those who are higher vs. lower with respect to the resource of interest, such as wealth). In this commentary I explain why the paradigm shift proposed by Sebben and Ullrich is so timely and important.
In particular, I suggest that contemporary focus on identity-based inequalities has evolved as a response to a major transformation in perceptions about the moral nature of intergroup relations and an emerging commitment to rectify historical injustices. However, evidence is accumulating that this focus might contribute to an ‘identity politics’ or ‘victimhood culture’ characterized by resentment and division. Moreover, the focus on identity-based categories inhibits the ability to identify the most effective strategies for increasing equality. Hence, we should make fundamental inequalities our next +1.
See: Nurit Shnabel (2025) Considering Fundamental Inequalities Offers a
Path out of the Competitive Victimhood Trap, Psychological Inquiry, 36:2, 129-133, DOI:
10.1080/1047840X.2025.2513810
Comments