Testing the Status-Legitimacy Hypothesis in China: Objective and Subjective Socioeconomic Status Divergently Predict System Justification

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 1044-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenqi Li ◽  
Ying Yang ◽  
Junhui Wu ◽  
Yu Kou

The status-legitimacy hypothesis proposes that people with lower socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to justify the social system than those with higher SES. However, empirical studies found inconsistent findings. In the present research, we argue that at least part of the confusion stems from the possibility that objective and subjective SES are differently related to system justification. On one hand, subjective SES is more related to status maintenance motivation and may increase system justification. On the other hand, objective SES is more related to access to information about the social reality, which may increase criticism about the system and lead to lower system justification. These hypotheses were supported by evidence from five studies (total N = 26,134) involving both adult and adolescent samples in China. We recommend that future research on status-related issues needs to distinguish the potential divergent roles of objective and subjective SES.

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarret T. Crawford ◽  
Allison Fournier ◽  
John Ruscio

Findings that money priming increases socioeconomic system support have proven difficult to replicate. Schuler and Wänke found that subjective socioeconomic status (SES) moderates money priming effects on system justification and belief in a just world. We conducted three preregistered replications of this research, with sample sizes 3 times those of the original studies. Replication 1 was a conceptual replication that combined elements from the original two studies, and Replications 2 and 3 were close replications of Studies 1 and 2, respectively. None of the four subjective SES × Money Prime interaction effects tested were statistically significant, and only one of the four survived a “small telescopes” analysis. We discuss reasons for our general failure to replicate the original findings and implications for money priming effects.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 660-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitchell J. Callan ◽  
Hyunji Kim ◽  
Ana I. Gheorghiu ◽  
William J. Matthews

We propose that personal relative deprivation (PRD)—the belief that one is worse off than similar others—plays a key role in the link between social class and prosociality. Across multiple samples and measures (total N = 2,233), people higher in PRD were less inclined to help others. When considered in isolation, neither objective nor subjective socioeconomic status (SES) was meaningfully associated with prosociality. However, because people who believe themselves to be at the top of the socioeconomic hierarchy are typically low in PRD, these variables act as mutual suppressors—the predictive validity of both is enhanced when they are considered simultaneously, revealing that both higher subjective SES and higher PRD are associated with lower prosociality. These results cast new light on the complex connections between relative social status and people’s willingness to act for the benefit of others.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chee-Seng Tan ◽  
Siew-May Cheng ◽  
Tomokazu Nakayama ◽  
Sanju George

With both theories and empirical studies supporting the benefits of having a romantic relationship, there remains an increasing tendency of staying single being documented globally. It is thus important to understand the antecedent factors of such voluntary single movement. Guided by the Investment Model of Commitment (IMC) process, the roles of subjective socioeconomic status (SSES), relational mobility, and desirability of control in attitudes toward singlehood were investigated. A total of 1,108 undergraduate students from Malaysia (n=444), Japan (n=316), and India (n=348) answered an online survey consisting of the Attitudes toward Singlehood Scale, MacArthur Scale of SSES, Relational Mobility Scale, Desirability of Control Scale, Mini-Social Phobia Inventory, and Single Item Narcissism Scale. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed a persistent positive relationship between desirability of control, but not socioeconomic status and relational mobility, with attitudes toward singlehood, even after statistically excluding the effects of social anxiety and narcissism. A similar pattern was also observed among those who were currently single. Moreover, an interaction effect of socioeconomic status and relational mobility was found in further exploratory analysis. The results highlight that retaining the autonomy and flexibility of managing one’s own life and financial concern are the key reasons young adults prefer staying single to engaging in a romantic relationship. Implications and recommendations for future research are also presented in this study.


2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Greitemeyer ◽  
Christina Sagioglou

Abstract. Previous research has shown that people of low subjective socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to experience compassion and provide help to others than people of high SES. However, low subjective SES also appears to be related to more hostile and aggressive responding. Given that prosociality is typically an antagonist of aggression, we examined whether low subjective SES individuals could be indeed more prosocial and antisocial. Five studies – two correlational, three experimental – found that low subjective SES was related to increased aggression. In contrast, subjective SES was not negatively related to trait and state measures of prosociality.


2020 ◽  
pp. 088626051989734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quanquan Wang ◽  
Xia Liu

Peer victimization is a serious issue among school-aged children. Chinese left-behind children tend to experience peer victimization and associated nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior. However, the possible improvement of subjective socioeconomic status (SES) based on increased family income may serve to buffer the relationship between peer victimization and NSSI, and this buffering effect may differ by level of social support. Thus, the current study aimed to examine the moderating effect of subjective SES on the relationship between peer victimization and NSSI by the level of social support among Chinese left-behind children. A total of 431 left-behind children and 447 non-left-behind children (comparison group) completed self-report scales measuring peer victimization, NSSI, subjective SES, and social support. Results showed that peer victimization was positively related to NSSI among left-behind children, but not among non-left-behind children. Moreover, for left-behind children with low levels of social support, high subjective SES intensified the association between peer victimization and NSSI; peer victimization was positively associated with NSSI among left-behind children who reported high subjective SES, but not among those with low subjective SES. However, high levels of social support seemed to protect the left-behind children with high subjective SES who experienced peer victimization from NSSI. For non-left-behind children with both parents present, high subjective SES played a protective role in the association between peer victimization and NSSI, regardless of the levels of social support they enjoyed. These findings contribute to an understanding of subjective SES as a moderating mechanism in the association between peer victimization and NSSI among left-behind children. Social support proved central to the protective role of subjective SES. Intervention programs to enhance social support can help to strengthen the protective effect of subjective SES on NSSI among left-behind children who experience peer victimization.


Psihologija ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-215
Author(s):  
Spomenka Miskovic

This research attempts to explore conceptions of poverty and wealth typical for Belgrade schoolchildren in two different ages: 13,5 years and 17,5 years (total N=222). We identified the content and the structure of conceptions, as well as the age differences for every conception element. The criteria for identification that younger children used were: possessing, appearance, psychical characteristic and specific social group affiliation, while older children demonstrated social schemes of larger complexity and stated: general needs, evaluation of life, different ways of becoming rich or poor, describing life-styles. Relations between various explanations of poverty and wealth revealed the existence of one homogeneous structural component (blaming the system) as well as the presence of conditional non homogeneous individualistic one. Schoolchildren with higher socioeconomic status prefered individualistic (positive) explanations of wealth in comparison with children that had lower socioeconomic status. At the same time, we found no difference in using structuralistic explanations of poverty between schoolchildren who had different socioeconomic status. Parental level of education turned out to be irrelevant for social criticism.


Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 329
Author(s):  
André Hajek ◽  
Benedikt Kretzler ◽  
Hans-Helmut König

Background: Thus far, there is a lack of a systematic review synthesizing empirical studies that analyze the link between personality factors and healthcare use (HCU) or costs. Consequently, the purpose of our systematic review is to give an overview of empirical findings from observational studies examining the association between personality factors and HCU or costs. Methods: PubMed, PsycINFO, and NHS EED (NHS Economic Evaluation Database) were searched. Observational studies examining the association between personality factors and HCU costs by using validated tools were included. Two reviewers performed study selection and data extraction and evaluated the study quality. Findings were synthesized qualitatively. Results: In total, n = 15 studies (HCU, n = 14; cost studies, n = 1) were included in the final synthesis. A few studies point to an association between conscientiousness and HCU (with mixed evidence). Some more evidence was found for an association between higher agreeableness, higher extraversion, and higher openness to experience and increased HCU. The majority of studies analyzed found a link between higher neuroticism and increased HCU. Conclusion: Personality factors, and particularly neuroticism, are associated with HCU. This knowledge is important to manage healthcare use. However, future research based on longitudinal data and studies investigating the link between personality characteristics and costs are required.


2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 288-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Luiza Pontes de França-Freitas ◽  
Almir Del Prette ◽  
Zilda Aparecida Pereira Del Prette

There is a clear lack of empirical studies about the socio-emotional characteristics of gifted and talented children, especially in the context of social skills. This study aimed to characterize the social skills of such children, identifying similarities and differences in the skill repertoire in comparison with non-gifted children. The sample contained 394 children from 8 to 12 years old, of which 269 children were identified as gifted. All participants answered the Social Skills Rating System and Socio-demographic Questionnaire. The results indicate a more elaborate social skills repertoire for gifted children in all categories with the exception of empathic skills. The implications of these results for the planning of educational programs are discussed and future research directions are identified.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Präg ◽  
Melinda C. Mills ◽  
Rafael Wittek

Research has established a robust association between subjective socioeconomic status (SES) and health outcomes, which holds over and above the associations between objective markers of SES and health. Furthermore, comparative research on health inequalities has shown considerable variation in the relationship between different objective markers of SES and health across countries. Drawing on data from 29 countries, we present the first cross-national study on the subjective SES–health relationship. For two health outcomes, namely self-rated health (SRH) and psychological wellbeing, we are able to confirm that subjective SES is related to health in all countries under study, even when income, education, and occupational prestige are accounted for. Furthermore, we document considerable variation in the strength of the subjective SES–health association across countries. This variation however is largely independent of country differences in income inequality and country affluence. The health benefits of a high subjective SES appear to be slightly larger in more affluent countries, but only for SRH, not for psychological wellbeing.


Author(s):  
Jiunn Wang ◽  
Claire Hulme

The relationship between frailty and socioeconomic status has been widely explored in the literature. A deeper understanding toward the underlying mechanism is required to further assist policy makers in reducing the inequalities. The objective of this study is to systematically review evidence investigating the direct relationship between frailty and socioeconomic status. The review was conducted following the principles of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Among the included studies, 52.38% explored the pattern of frailty in age and 42.86% explored mediators as the pathway variables. With various measures and methodologies, included studies did not point to the same conclusions. In terms of the pattern of frailty in age, we found evidence for the age as leveller hypothesis, the status maintenance hypothesis and the cumulative advantage hypothesis. The included mediators differed across studies. However, we found that these mediators can be categorised into behaviours, health, social factors, material resources and mental status. These categories indicate the important aspects to consider for policies aiming at reducing the inequalities in frailty. To obtain a full picture of the underlying mechanism, future research should harmonise different measures for frailty and socioeconomic indicators and apply more comprehensive sets of mediators.


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