Social Class and Reference Group Influences

SOCIAL CLASS AND REFERENCE GROUP INFLUENCES : 

SOCIAL CLASS AND REFERENCE GROUP INFLUENCES BY SAYANDEEP MONDAL ANINDITA RAY INDRANIL MUKHERJEE AVINASH SHAH ANIKET NAG

SOCIAL CLASS : 

SOCIAL CLASS Social class – a status hierarchy by which groups and individuals are classified on the basis of esteem (regard, respect) and prestige (reputation, influence derived from achievements). The different lifestyles of social classes lead to different benefits being sought

Social Class Membership : 

Social Class Membership Members of the same social class tend to share common values, beliefs, and behaviors that unite them (as opposed to simple demographics). Common factors used to place people into different social classes: occupation, source of income, possessions, associations with others, and level of influence.

OCCUPATION : 

OCCUPATION What a person does for a living. It is an indicator of other signs of class membership: income, personal associations, and status. Further, class assumptions within an occupation may be based on performance level.

INCOME SOURCE : 

INCOME SOURCE Level of income is not by itself a good indicator of class. Income source along with occupation may help us determine whether two individuals that have the same income belong in the same class: investments, inheritance, old wealth, etc.

ASSOCIATIONS : 

ASSOCIATIONS Consumption patterns and interaction networks are inherently linked. People tend to associate with others that share the same tastes and recreational activities. Class consciousness – sense of belonging to a certain class is reinforced by our associations. The higher our class the more class conscious we are.

LEVEL OF INFULENCE : 

LEVEL OF INFULENCE Membership in a higher class generally leads to greater influence within the workplace, organizations, and society as a whole. The more responsibility one has the greater the influence s/he can exert on others.

ASSIGNING INDIVIDUALS TO SOCIAL CLASSES : 

ASSIGNING INDIVIDUALS TO SOCIAL CLASSES The five indicators may be used singly or in combination to establish an individual’s class status. Methods normally used to classify people into social classes include (all are subjective): The reputational approach The subjective approach Objective approaches: Single-item measures Multiple-item measures

VALUES, ATTITUDES and LIFESTYLES across classes : 

VALUES, ATTITUDES and LIFESTYLES across classes Social class is an important source of beliefs, values, and behaviors Different social classes value education differently. Attitudes toward family life, raising children, the role of women, etc. vary from class to class. People in various social classes exhibit markedly different lifestyles.

SOCIAL POWER : 

SOCIAL POWER Power of reward – praise, approval, acceptance, status, recognition, etc. Coercive power – unacceptable behavior strongly discouraged Expert power – informational attraction Referent power – closer the match between person and group, more willingness to conform