Perceptions of U.S. social mobility are divided (and distorted) along ideological lines

Abstract: The ability to move upward in social class or economic position (i.e., social mobility) is a defining feature of the "American Dream," yet recent public opinion polls indicate that many Americans are losing confidence in the essential fairness of the system and their opportunities for financial advancement. In two studies, we examined Americans' perceptions of both current levels of mobility in the U.S. and temporal trends in mobility, and compared them with objective indicators to determine perceptual accuracy. Overall, participants underestimated current mobility and erroneously concluded mobility has declined over the past four decades. These misperceptions were more pronounced among political liberals than conservatives and those who are neutral. These perception differences were accounted for by liberals' (relative) dissatisfaction with the current social system and rejection of social hierarchies and inequality. The discussion addressed potential limitations of this research and implications for theories of political ideology.