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Upon examining how people in society live, work, go to school, shop, vacation, behave and even think, a striking pattern seems to emerge:
A rich person is usually very much like other rich people.
An upper-middle class person is usually very much like other upper-middle class people.
A lower middle-class person is usually very much like other lower-middle class people.
And on and on.
Even a homeless person is usually very much like other homeless people whether they're in New York, Chicago or San Francisco. It's all the same.
So, are we under this big illusion about our own personal uniqueness and individuality when in fact who we are and what we are is largely determined by our socioeconomic status?
So, are we under this big illusion about our own personal uniqueness and individuality when in fact who we are and what we are is largely determined by our socioeconomic status?
Not completely, but yes, to a large extent. The problem is humans are copycats. And we copy the people around us/the people we're closest to. In America, we have this delusion that we're tough minded individualists, but we're actually very prone to groupthink and copycat behavior.
There is a relationship between our SES and our unique individuality. Others can evaluate us by our behavior and vocabulary. Your house, car, and clothing, etc., reveal something about your income. Google analytics loves to size you up. You can tell by how they slow your computer down! It is not a coincidence that each stratification of SES contains similar elements; it is that way by definition. So then, after we fit into one of the stated groups (e.g., middle class), are we conditioned to fulfill those roles? Yes, to some degree. People influence each other especially if they are similar.
I wear jeans and a polo shirt to work, I drive a car with 225K miles on it, I wear running shoes or flip-flops most of the time. What socioeconomic status can you infer from that information?
I wear jeans and a polo shirt to work, I drive a car with 225K miles on it, I wear running shoes or flip-flops most of the time. What socioeconomic status can you infer from that information?
None. But I could probably deduce quite a bit in a 20 minute conversation.
The clothes on your back and the car you drive don't have a particularly high correlation to income and wealth these days.
I wear jeans and a polo shirt to work, I drive a car with 225K miles on it, I wear running shoes or flip-flops most of the time. What socioeconomic status can you infer from that information?
My best guess would be that you're a brain surgeon.
Regarding just cars people drive alone, just curious how would you group the following in terms of socio-economic status (i.e., middle class, upper-middle class, upper class, etc.):
1. Generic entry-range Honda or Toyota vehicle
2. (All intended as the mid-range or higher-end models) Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, Chevy Camaro, or Dodge Charger
3. BMW or Audi
4. Corvette
5. Ferrari or Lamborghini
6. Rolls Royce
My own personal best guesses:
1. middle class
2. middle class to upper-middle class
3. upper-middle class to upper class
4. upper-middle class to upper class
5. upper class
6. upper class
ETA: adds
Last edited by Phoenix2017; 07-15-2016 at 11:32 AM..
Regarding just cars people drive alone, just curious how would you group the following in terms of socio-economic status (i.e., middle class, upper-middle class, upper class, etc.):
1. (All intended as the higher-end models) Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger, Chevy Camaro, or Dodge Charger
2. BMW or Audi
3. Corvette
4. Ferrari or Lamborghini
5. Rolls Royce
My own personal best guesses:
1. middle class to upper-middle class
2. upper-middle class to upper class
3. upper-middle class to upper class
4. upper class
5. upper class
I think that is spot on. These kinds of distinctions are fairly well-defined in our society.
Also, an upper-middle class person is going to live in a McMansion at some point (very typical). An upper class person is going to live in a mansion or have large condominiums or penthouse apartments in expensive cities like New York or San Francisco where others cannot afford such things.
It seems to me that socioeconomic status trumps everything else about a person in this day and age.
It seems to me that socioeconomic status trumps everything else about a person in this day and age.
While that may seem to be true for most Americans, as some people age, they actually mature.
Unfortunately, since maturity is not a characteristic sought by most Americans, you are correct.
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