Desire for success but “lying flat”: The conflicting consequences of economic inequality and its mechanisms

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2026.0247

Abstract

Abstract:

Previous research has shown that economic inequality increases individuals’ desire for wealth and status. However, it is unclear whether this desire translates into concrete, effortful action. Across six studies, the present research reveals a psychological ambivalence elicited by economic inequality: while it fosters a stronger desire for wealth and status, it simultaneously triggers a tendency toward “lying flat”. Studies 1 and 2 employed correlational methods and demonstrated that economic inequality predicts both outcomes. Specifically, status anxiety mediates the association between economic inequality and the desire for wealth and status, whereas perceived control mediates the relationship between economic inequality and lying flat tendency. Studies 3 and 4 (including 4a and 4b) utilized experimental designs, providing causal evidence for both effects and their underlying mechanisms. Given the adverse implications of lying flat tendency, Study 5 further examined potential moderating variables and found that perception of social mobility moderates the mediating pathway from economic inequality to lying flat tendency via perceived control. This research extends prior findings in the field and highlights the conflicting psychological consequences of economic inequality and their mechanisms. Moreover, it offers new insights for mitigating the negative outcomes of perceived inequality and sheds light on how to promote individual effort and facilitate upward social mobility.

Key words: economic inequality, desire for wealth and status, “lying flat”, status anxiety, perceived control, perception of social mobility

MAO Jia-Yan, YANG Shen-Long, TIAN Cai-Yu. (2026). Desire for success but “lying flat”: The conflicting consequences of economic inequality and its mechanisms. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 58(2), 247-263.

Figures/Tables 9

References 51

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Variables	M	SD	1	2	3
1. Economic inequality	4.59	0.96	1
2. Desire for wealth and status	5.25	1.22	0.26^***	1
3. Lying flat tendency	2.08	0.95	0.14^*	?0.06	1
4. Subjective SES	5.56	1.18	?0.15^*	0.00	?0.81

Variables	M	SD	1	2	3
1. Economic inequality	4.59	0.96	1
2. Desire for wealth and status	5.25	1.22	0.26^***	1
3. Lying flat tendency	2.08	0.95	0.14^*	?0.06	1
4. Subjective SES	5.56	1.18	?0.15^*	0.00	?0.81

Variables	M	SD	1	2	3	4
1. Economic inequality	4.89	1.02	1
2. Status anxiety	4.02	1.57	0.33^***	1
3. Perceived control	4.75	1.14	?0.44^***	?0.53^***	1
4. Desire for wealth and status	5.83	0.76	0.12^**	0.37^***	?0.03	1
5. Lying flat tendency	2.08	0.77	0.16^***	0.17^***	?0.45^***	?0.22^***

Variables	M	SD	1	2	3	4
1. Economic inequality	4.89	1.02	1
2. Status anxiety	4.02	1.57	0.33^***	1
3. Perceived control	4.75	1.14	?0.44^***	?0.53^***	1
4. Desire for wealth and status	5.83	0.76	0.12^**	0.37^***	?0.03	1
5. Lying flat tendency	2.08	0.77	0.16^***	0.17^***	?0.45^***	?0.22^***

Predictor variable	Regression equation 1 (Lying flat tendency)				Regression equation 2 (Perceived control)				Regression equation 3 (Lying flat tendency)
Predictor variable	B	SE	t	95% CI	B	SE	t	95% CI	B	SE	t	95% CI
Economic inequality	0.19	0.05	3.81^***	[0.09, 0.29]	?0.32	0.06	?5.43^***	[?0.43, ?0.20]	0.03	0.04	0.74	[?0.05, 0.11]
Perception of social mobility	?0.29	0.10	?3.04^**	[?0.49, ?0.10]	0.54	0.11	4.73^***	[0.32, 0.77]	?0.03	0.08	?0.31	[?0.19, 0.14]
Perceived control									?0.50	0.04	?12.34^***	[?0.58, ?0.42]
Interaction term	?0.10	0.10	?1.06	[?0.29, 0.09]	0.23	0.11	1.97^*	[0.00, 0.45]	0.01	0.08	0.12	[?0.15, 0.16]
R²	0.18				0.32				0.46
F	8.99^***				19.19^***				30.97^***