New research from UC Berkeley suggests that our bias in favor of the rich over the poor may start much earlier than previously thought—possibly as early as 14 months of age.

Income inequality in the U.S. is at near-record levels, and analysts see it as one of today’s most pressing issues. While many blame policy failures, this study points to something more basic: biases toward wealth may emerge in early childhood.

Early preferences

The study’s findings suggest that toddlers, even before they can fully talk, may already prefer those with more resources—like toys and snacks—over those with less. But researchers say this bias may not come from positive feelings about the rich; rather, it could stem from negative feelings toward the poor.

“By 12 to 15 months, we’re seeing the development of these wealth-based biases,” the researchers say. “And once they take root, they’re pretty strong.”

The team conducted seven experiments with toddlers, testing their preferences for people with differing amounts of resources. Over and over, the children favored the “wealthier” person and even avoided those who had less.

One of the experiments introduced toddlers to two adults, one with a bowl full of toys and snacks, and one with an almost-empty bowl. Later, the toddlers were shown the same adults with new, opaque bowls. Even though they couldn’t see the items inside, the toddlers consistently chose the person they had seen with more resources before, showing that they could remember who was wealthier.

Affecting our behavior

The researchers then tested how this knowledge affected the toddlers’ actions. When adults needed help with a task, like building a tower, the toddlers were more likely to help the person who had more resources earlier in the study.

In another test, toddlers watched a video of an adult distributing resources unevenly. When told that the adult was “good,” the toddlers paid equal attention to both the rich and poor individuals. But when told the adult was “bad,” they focused more on the poorer individual—suggesting a bias against the less wealthy rather than a preference for the rich.

“It’s not so much that toddlers like rich people,” the researchers explain. “They may just dislike poor people.”

The study’s findings underline the challenge of addressing wealth inequality. Biases form early, the researchers say, and reversing them will require a concerted effort from both individuals and institutions.

“These biases are ingrained early,” the authors conclude. “But we can change them by working hard to reshape how young children see and think about wealth and inequality.”

While some of this bias may have evolutionary roots—favoring those with more resources for survival—there’s also a social component. The study suggests that to reduce inequality, we need to confront these biases head-on, starting with children.

“We’re adaptable,” the researchers say. “With the right policies and efforts, we can push back against our initial tendencies and create a fairer society.”