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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Grateful to ISPP and everyone who made this conference such an inspiring space. If you're interested in the psychology of inequality, redistribution, or science communication—let’s connect! 🙌

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

It made me reflect: maybe we need to rethink how we communicate science. We often rely on slides packed with text and graphs, but perhaps we should aim for more intentional, clear, and direct ideas. Science deserves compelling communication!

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

A fun twist: during my presentation, the power went out! No slides, no visuals—just me and the audience. And honestly… it was one of the best experiences I've had presenting research. More engaging, more human. Like a good seminar, not a slideshow.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

I also had the chance to present one of our current projects, where we show that across the ideological spectrum, people often agree that some aspects of inequality are unfair—like unequal access to healthcare or education. A hopeful finding!

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

The symposium wrapped up with a thoughtful integrative discussion by Rosa Rodríguez-Bailón, highlighting how these findings contribute to the broader psychology of inequality—and what are the open questions and future directions!

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

@celbaek.bsky.social brought results from a large-scale megastudy in the U.S., testing 20 interventions to boost support for redistribution. They identified what works (and what doesn't) in shifting perceptions and attitudes toward inequality and its reduction!

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

@phdlope.bsky.social presented work from Spain and the UK showing that when people perceive high economic inequality, they are less likely to believe in meritocracy—and that leads to more support for redistribution. Perception → Beliefs about meritocracy → Policy preferences.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Franco Bastias analyzed data from France, Sweden, and the UK to show how emotional reactions to inequality mediate the relationship between system-justifying ideologies and support for redistribution. Emotions matter, even in ideological contexts.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Silvia Filippi shared experimental and cross-sectional findings from Italy, showing how misconceptions about progressive taxation—and the negative emotions these evoke—can reduce support for tax-based redistribution. Understanding emotion & cognition here is key!

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

I had the honor of chairing a symposium titled "Unpacking support for redistribution: Psychological mechanisms and interventions." We had a highly engaged audience, and an incredible lineup of researchers—huge thanks to everyone who joined and made it such a dynamic session! Here's a quick recap 🧵👇

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the annual meeting of the International Society of Political Psychology (ISPP) in Prague. It was a wonderful few days filled with thought-provoking research and the joy of reconnecting with colleagues and friends in the field of political psychology.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

So, what can we do? 👀First, just notice it. It’s not just about money. It’s about how we live. 🗣️Then, tell the secret. Support policies that reduce inequality. Think about how and who we buy from. Ask questions. Organize. Thanks for reading this far! Feel free to share to help spread the secret💥

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

In my PhD and now in my postdoc, I study how we perceive and react to economic inequality. We’ve found that when people see this “secret life” of inequality — not just the money, but how it affects health, education, political influence — they’re more likely to care and to act! ✊

hdl.handle.net

Percepción de la desigualdad económica en diferentes ámbitos y actitudes hacia el cambio social

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

♻️ You're worried about recycling a yogurt pot correctly, and feel bad for taking a long shower. Meanwhile, some are taking joyrides to space — each flight emitting more CO₂ than many people will in their entire lives. Inequality is also unsustainable.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

🗳️ Some voices whisper. Others roar. When money buys media, lobbies, and campaigns — the interests of the richest get heard first. Economic inequality is also undemocratic.

theguardian.com

Trump inauguration: Zuckerberg, Bezos and Musk seated in front of cabinet picks

Seatings come under fire from Trump critics as sign of oligarchy and the powerful influence they wield

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

🕒 You barely see your family and friends because your job has unstable hours and low pay. Meanwhile, others have free time, hobbies, long vacations — and quality time with loved ones. We don't own our time, inequality decides who gets it.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

🏠 You’re debating whether you can afford your rent this month. Your landlord is deciding whether to Airbnb or just leave the place empty. Spoiler: they own 50 more.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

🎓 You dream of a master’s degree but can't afford the tuition — even at a public university. Someone else? Pays with ease, graduates, lands the job through a friend of a friend. Merit, right?

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

🩺 You’re stuck on a 6-month waiting list to see a doctor. Meanwhile, someone else gets a private specialist tomorrow. Same illness, different timelines. Health inequality hits hard — and fast.

theguardian.com

The Americans dying because they can't afford medical care

Millions of Americans – as many as 25% of the population – are delaying getting medical help because of skyrocketing costs

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

That billionaire wealth is so far away, it’s hard to even see it. But here’s the secret: Inequality isn’t just about the numbers. It’s right here, woven into everyday life. Let me show you 👇

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Let’s talk in distances we all understand. If what an average person in Spain earns in a year is just 1 mm, how far does the richest person’s wealth go? 🏃‍♀️ Grab your running shoes — we could run a 10K and still not get there. What you make in a year: 1 mm Wealth of the richest people: KILOMETERS

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

We represented inequality in the pub: 10 people at a table. The waiter brings 10 pints of beer — 1 per person? Nope. 🍺 1 person (the richest 10%) grabs 8 pints (around 80% of the wealth) 🍺 Half the table (the poorest 50%) shares the last splash of 1 pint (only 2% of the wealth) Cheers?

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

We don’t walk around knowing stats about inequality. And when we do see the numbers... They don’t mean much. They feel distant. It's hard to care about what you can’t picture. Let's try to picture it👇

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking at #PintOfScienceDK in Aarhus. 🍻🧠 I spoke about the "secret life" of inequality — and why it’s closer (and more unfair) than we think. 🧵 Here’s the main idea (plus a few memes, so we don’t all pull our hair out 🫠):

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Reposted by Francisco M Soler-Martínez

Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center - CIMCYC @cimcyc.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

📉 Does inequality make us less happy? Researchers from CIMCYC reveal that living in unequal societies increases anxiety about social status and decreases trust in others, affecting well-being. It doesn't just affect the poorest; it impacts society as a whole. cimcyc.ugr.es/en/informati...

cimcyc.ugr.es

The Hidden Cost of Inequality: Why Living in Unequal Societies Makes Us Less Happy

En un artículo reciente, utilizando datos de una encuesta nacional realizada en España, el Grupo de Investigación Psicología de los Problemas Sociales ha demostrado que percibir mayores niveles de des...

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Reposted by Francisco M Soler-Martínez

Francisca Pinheiro @franciscagpinheiro.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

📢 #pint25DK #Aarhus is almost here — are you ready? Explore the speaker lineup and get inspired by a night of curiosity and great conversations. Secure your spot for the talks at Åben 👉 billetfix.dk/en/events/aa... Let’s make it a night to remember! @pintsworld.bsky.social #SciComm

Pint of Science Aarhus 2025 schedule
Fairbar, May 19th
SymbioMatch: tinder for crops and bacteria, Diego Garcia de La Morena, MBG, AU
Can unstable proteins support long-lasting memories? Silvia Turchetto, DANDRITE, AU
May 20th
One more reason to love dolphins: baby talk! Nicole El Haddad, ECOSCIENCE, AU
Fish and worms illuminating human biology, Amanda Muñoz-Juan, DANDRITE, AU
May 21st
The secret life of inequality, Francisco Miguel Martínez, BSS, AU
Plastic-Eaters: a natural cure? Rosie Graham, iNANO, AU

Åben, May 19th
Muddy mysteries: time machine of the Artic, Kristin Doering, Geoscience, AU
It's wet in Aarhus, but is it getting wetter? Gavin Simpson, ANIVET, AU
May 20th
Attack of the clones, Andrew Ferenbach, MBG, AU
Is there a serial killer gene? Victoria Twiddy, DANDRITE, AU
May 21st
Say Cheese! Molecular life up close, Ana Almeida, MBG, AU
Treating the untreatable, Magnus Dybtved, Chemistry, AU

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

🗣️ People need real opportunities, and reducing overall inequality is essential to address these challenges!

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

At the same time, believing public systems avoid this overlap may increase acceptance of economic inequality. But access alone isn't enough; e.g., free access without transportation to the medical facility or the financial means to afford prescribed medications may still result in inequality. 🤔

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

💡 Thus, (main message) showing people how income inequality creates disparities in other key areas of life such as health and education could help to diminish acceptance of economic inequality and foster support for actions to reduce it.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

👀 People who read a fictitious newspaper article highlighting the second narrative (high overlap between income and health/education disparities) were less accepting of economic inequality and more supportive of redistributive measures.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

This perception might be influenced by two possible narratives (in Spanish context, at least): 1️⃣ "Thanks to public systems, income inequality does not affect healthcare or education." 2️⃣ "Despite public healthcare and education systems, income inequality spills over into these areas."

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Here we were interested in people's perceptions of the overlap between income inequality and health/education disparities. We used 7 pairs of circles with different degrees of overlap to ask about this perception.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

📢 NEW PUBLICATION! 📢 3rd paper of the thesis, in SPPS (2025). 4 studies testing whether 'connecting' income inequality to health and education disparities could increase people’s motivation to reduce it doi.org/10.1177/1948...

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Reposted by Francisco M Soler-Martínez

Lope Tejero-Peregrina @phdlope.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

First paper is out! Here, we suggest that meritocracy doesn’t just justify inequality—it mediates how we respond to it.

Paper title page, 'From Perceived Economic Inequality to Support for Redistribution: The Role of Meritocracy Perception.'

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Thus, instead of concentrating solely on income disparities in public discourse, including economic-based disparities in health or education into the conversation, might provide a pragmatic strategy to overcome potential resistance and mobilize broader public support! ✊

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

What is more: scenarios about economic disparities in health and education, compared to income inequality alone, elicited stronger rejection of inequality and greater support for redistributive policies and collective action!💥

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

✅ Findings: Across studies, perceived economic inequality in all domains (health, education, and income) led to greater intolerance toward inequality, which in turn increased support for redistribution and collective action.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

📢 NEW PUBLICATION! 📢 2nd paper of the thesis, in EJSP (2025). We ran 4 studies to test whether perceptions of economic-based disparities in health and education—beyond income—could enhance support for redistribution and collective action to reduce economic inequality doi.org/10.1002/ejsp...

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

🤝 As concerns about health and education could be higher than concern about income inequality, they might serve as a common ground for initiating collective actions to reduce economic inequality.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

✊ And these concerns about disparities in health, education or income were important! All of them predicted greater willingness to protest and demonstrate for a more egalitarian society!

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Key findings: 📊 While only 20% of people mentioned income disparities as one of the worst expressions of inequality in their countries, this percentage rose to 45% and 42% for healthcare and educational opportunities.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

📢 PUBLICATION 📢 1st paper of the thesis, in RLP (2023). We analysed secondary data from the Latinobarómetro (n = 20,204, 18 countries) to explore concerns about inequality in health, education, and income, and how they relate to collective action intentions doi.org/10.14349/rlp...

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Special thanks to Guillermo Willis and Efraín García-Sánchez, my academic parents throughout this journey—brilliant researchers and incredible humans!🫂

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

🇮🇹 Winter School 4Ms, Padova (February '25)—Learning from top researchers in Meta-research, Multi-lab, Multiverse, and Measurement. Excited about the future of open and strong science!

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

🇪🇸 SCEPS Conference, Santiago de Compostela (October '24)—Happy to be part of the Spanish Social Psychology community, alongside my beloved research group Hum-289 (Granada), which always feels like home.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

🌍 Summer School of the EASP, Košice (July '24)—Young researchers from over 20 nationalities united by a passion for social change. But more than that—kind, fun, and inspiring people. Miss you all!

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

📌 Here is the thing: we found that people were more likely to take action to reduce economic inequality (e.g., social mobilization) when they perceived disparities in healthcare and education—beyond just income. Thus, we need to include these aspects into the conversation on economic inequality!🗣️

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

📌 Income disparities are often justified on the basis of merit (e.g., "some people worked harder than others"), which lowers support for reducing inequality. But how justifiable is it that someone cannot afford cancer treatment? Health and education are widely considered basic rights.

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Francisco M Soler-Martínez @fransolmar.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

📌 Income statistics often feel too abstract and are not easy to understand, whereas inequalities in healthcare and education are directly felt in daily life—like waiting ages for medical attention when sick.

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