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Amidst rising economic inequality and mounting evidence of its pernicious social effects, what motivates people to oppose inequality? Five studies (N = 34,442) show that attributing poverty to situational forces is linked to greater concern about inequality, preference for egalitarian policies, and inequality-reducing behavior. In Study 1, situational attributions for poverty predicted reduced support for inequality across 34 countries. Study 2 replicated these findings with a nationally representative sample of Americans. Three experiments then tested whether situational attributions for poverty are malleable and motivate egalitarianism. Bolstering situational attributions for poverty through a brief writing exercise (Study 3) and a computer- based poverty simulation (Studies 4a-b) increased egalitarian action and reduced support for inequality immediately (Studies 3-4b), one day later, and 155 days post- intervention (Study 4b). Causal attributions for poverty offer one accessible means of shaping inequality-reducing attitudes and actions. Situational attributions may be a potent psychological lever for lessening societal inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]